Transforming the UK’s Evidence Base

Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 14 Nov 2023 Closed: 24 May 2024 Parliament page
This inquiry is exploring how officials produce statistics and analysis, how demands for data are changing, and whether the privacy of citizens is being adequately protected as new and innovative sources become available.
15 Recommendations
21 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
4 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 16 events
6 Mar
2025
Report published
24 May
2024
Report published
12 Mar
2024
Oral evidence
12 Mar
2024
Correspondence
12 Mar
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
6 Feb
2024
Oral evidence
6 Feb
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
9 Jan
2024
Correspondence
19 Dec
2023
Correspondence
5 Dec
2023
Oral evidence
5 Dec
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
9 Nov
2023
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
12 Mar 2024
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Transforming the UK’s Statistical Evidence Base
Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG · Cabinet Office Professor Denise Lievesley CBE · Oxford University Steffan Jones · Cabinet Office
6 Feb 2024
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Transforming the UK’s Statistical Evidence Base
Ed Humpherson · Office for Statistics Regulation
5 Dec 2023
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Transforming the UK’s Evidence Base
Gavin Freeguard · Connected by Data John Edwards · Information Commissioner's Office Reema Patel · Ipsos UK
9 Nov 2023
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Transforming the UK’s Evidence Base
Chris Morris · Full Fact Dr Gemma Tetlow · Institute for Government Hetan Shah · British Academy
5 Sep 2023
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Transforming the UK’s Evidence Base
Professor Sir Ian Diamond · Office for National Statistics
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - Transforming the UK’s Evidence Base HC 197 24 May 2024 36 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Rejected
Fifth Report - Transforming the UK…
UK public data landscape demonstrates strengths in independence, innovation, and regulatory framework.
There is much to be proud of across the UK’s public data-landscape. The independence of its statisticians from the government of the day, the innovative work being undertaken by a skilled researcher community, and our unique regulatory framework all received … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects a specific 'recommended programme structure' for data sharing, instead committing to its own comprehensive approach including reinvigorating DSIT's digital centre and creating a National Data Library.
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26 Recommendation Rejected
Fifth Report - Transforming the UK…
Require Government to publish evidence and data underpinning announced policy decisions.
We concur with Lord Maude’s recent recommendation that, when a policy decision is announced, the Government should publish the evidence and data underpinning that decision.
Government Response
The Government rejects the recommendation to publish evidence and data underpinning policy decisions. They assert that departments determine data sharing based on considerations like public safety, commercial sensitivity, and international relations.
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27 Recommendation Rejected
Fifth Report - Transforming the UK…
Routinely publish evidence for major policy announcements and develop options to deliver this.
We recommend that, at a minimum, governments in future routinely publish the evidence and data underpinning their major policy announcements. Making this happen will not be a straightforward task, and we suggest that in the first instance leaders of the … Read more
Government Response
The Government rejects the recommendation to routinely publish evidence and data underpinning major policy announcements. They state that such decisions lie with individual departments, who consider transparency alongside factors like public safety and commercial sensitivity.
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35 Recommendation Rejected
Fifth Report - Transforming the UK…
Jointly review varying data ethics frameworks for greater consistency and accountability mechanisms across government.
It is now time to consolidate the excellent exploratory work that has been done on data ethics, and to embed it more formally into the collection, analysis, and communication of evidence in the UK. We recommend that the Cabinet Office’s … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation for a joint review of data ethics frameworks, citing existing close collaboration and the need for flexibility over consistency. They plan to update the CDDO data ethics framework by the end of 2025 and assess the scope of work to consolidate cross-government guidance.
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Government Response AI assessment · 34 of 15 classified
Accepted 20
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 5
Rejected 4
Total 15 recs + 21 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
12 Mar 2024 To committee Letter from Professor Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician, UK Statistics Authority on additional written evidence following the 5.9.23 oral evidence session, dated 6.3.24
Parliament page
9 Jan 2024 To committee Letter from Professor Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician on supplementary written evidence after 5.9.23 oral evidence session, dated 18.12.23
Parliament page
19 Dec 2023 To committee Letter from John Edwards, UK Information Commissioner on follow-up after the oral evidence session on 5.12.23, dated 12.12.23
Parliament page
17 Oct 2023 To committee Letter from Professor Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician to on follow up written evidence after 5.9.23 oral evidence session, dated 5.10.23
Parliament page