Research Accreditation Panel

June 2026

1. Introduction

1. The Research Accreditation Panel (RAP), was created by the UK Statistics Authority (the Authority) to provide independent oversight of, and guidance on the operationalisation of the following legal gateways, which allow accredited and approved researchers to access data for research and statistical purposes:
   1. Digital Economy Act 2017 (DEA) (Part 5, Chapter 5) includes a statutory framework to support the UK research community, both within government and beyond, that permits public authorities to share de-identified information with accredited researchers for the purposes of public good research. Under the DEA, the UK Statistics Authority (The Authority) is the statutory body that oversees the accreditation of researchers, projects, processors, using the Research Code of Practice and Accreditation Criteria; and
   2. the Statistics and Registration Service Act (SRSA) 2007 at s.39(4)(i) allows access to information held by the Authority by approved researchers for the purpose of statistical research. The Approved Researcher gateway in the SRSA is operationalised in line with the Research Code of Practice and Accreditation Criteria.
2. The RAP provides advice to the Authority on the ways in which these legal gateways are operationalised to ensure processes remain compliant with legal requirements and efficiency of service for research accreditation. The RAP also advises the Authority on what may be undertaken by the Authority to maximise the impact of the Research powers within the DEA 2017.

2. Role and Responsibilities

Independent oversight of accreditation operations

1. All projects involving access to data for research purposes using the SRSA Approved Researcher gateway (as of 9 September 2021) and the DEA Research power will be consistently accredited using a common set of established frameworks and standards, as overseen by the RAP.
2. The RAP will also have oversight of the established framework and standards used to accredit processing environments under the Research power in the DEA, as well as the framework and standards to both approve and accredit researchers under the SRSA and the DEA, respectively.
3. The RAP has oversight of the processes that the Authority operationalises to grant access to de-identified data to accredited researchers, to ensure that this is independent, consistent, transparent and in the public good.

Accreditation of Processors

1. The RAP will receive regular reports and advice from expert assessors appointed by the Authority regarding the accreditation and compliance reviews of processing environments. The RAP will provide an accreditation decision based on the expert advice provided.

Accreditation of Researchers and Peer Reviewers

1. The RAP will receive regular updates from approved providers of researcher accreditation on the operation of the accreditation processes. The RAP will provide advice to providers to ensure the process for accrediting and approving researchers is in line with the Research Code of Practice and Accreditation Criteria.

Accreditation of Research Projects

1. Through application of the research project accreditation framework, where it is judged that independent advice and assurance is required, research project applications may be considered directly by the RAP, based only on compliance with the published accreditation criteria and will provide a final project accreditation decision on behalf of the Authority. The project accreditation will be published on the Authority website.
2. Data owner approval should be agreed prior to RAPs consideration of projects for accreditation. In rare instances where this may prove difficult, RAP reserve the right to accredit subject to future data owner approval.
3. The workload of the RAP relating to project accreditation will be managed as follows:
   1. DEA Accredited Processing Environments will validate each research project accreditation application against the RAP approved Project Accreditation Tool. The Authority will accredit research projects that prove compliant with the research accreditation framework. Projects accredited by this means will be periodically reported to the RAP for oversight and audit purposes;
   2. where necessary, research project accreditation applications will be referred to the RAP for review, whereby the RAP will provide an accreditation decision on the project; and
   3. in these instances, the RAP will consider research project applications by correspondence by default. The RAP reserves the right to defer the consideration of research project applications considered by correspondence to sitting meetings, should additional discussion be required.

Independent strategic advice to the Authority

1. The RAP provides independent advice to the Authority, which is the statutory accrediting body for Chapter 5 of Part 5 of the DEA, on how the Authority can best support public good research through strategic improvements to the operationalisation and use of the DEA Research powers.
2. The RAP will receive reports that provide insight into the operation of the data access landscape as related to accredited processing environments, and advise the Authority on how it might best work with accredited processors to support improvements to the wider data access process, for which research accreditation is one part.
3. The Research Code of Practice and Accreditation Criteria set out the circumstances in which accreditation can be withdrawn from accredited processors (at 22.1), accredited researchers (at 29.1), and accredited research projects (at 38.1). Where circumstances are identified that could result in the withdrawal of accreditation, the RAP will be provided with a report on the issue. The RAP will provide advice to the Authority on the withdrawal of accreditation of a processing environment, researcher or research project.

3. Meetings

1. The RAP will meet on a quarterly basis. The Chair of RAP may convene additional meetings as deemed necessary and the RAP may transact business via correspondence as necessary.
2. Unless in exceptional circumstances, all RAP members are expected to attend at least three quarterly RAP meetings per year. Panel members unable to attend a quarterly meeting must inform the Authority of their absence prior to the meeting.
3. Meaningful contribution to the panel, such as reviewing meeting papers and submitting comments in advance, can be considered as fulfilling participation requirements in cases of unavoidable absence. 
4. At least seven days prior to its meetings, the RAP will receive reports as it requires.

4. Reporting

1. The RAP will report to the Authority Board through the Chief Executive of the Board.
2. The RAP will operate transparently, with discussions during meetings being minuted and made publicly available on the Authority website.
3. A list of researchers, processors, and projects accredited by the RAP will be published on the Authority website. This includes both projects accredited under the Research strand of the DEA (from October 2019 onwards), and projects approved under Section (39)(4)(i) of the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (from 9 September 2021 onwards).
4. Summary information on applications rejected by the RAP and the reasons for the rejection will be published.
5. The RAP may resolve to publish additional reports which communicate the work of the RAP and other relevant matters at any time.

5. Appeals

1. Those applying to be an accredited researcher or processor, or researchers applying to have their research proposal accredited, will have the right to appeal processes and procedures of the RAP.
2. An appeal will only be successful if sufficient evidence has been provided that the RAP’s assessment was not conducted in accordance with the RAP’s standard procedures and processes or some other material irregularity related to the assessment process has occurred.
3. Appeals must be submitted to the Authority within 28 working days of the RAP’s initial decision using the following email address: Research.Accreditation@statistics.gov.uk.
4. If the request for appeal fulfils the criteria set out above, it will be referred to an Appeals Committee for consideration. The Secretariat will inform the National Statistician (or their nominee) and the National Statistician will convene an Appeals Panel including the Chair of the RAP, an independent member of the RAP (one who was not involved in the original judgement, where possible), and the Chair of the National Statistician’s Data Ethics Advisory Committee. Members of the Appeals Panel can appoint a delegate to attend the Appeals Panel in their place.
5. The Appeals Panel have the option of including an independent subject matter expert on the Panel, depending on the nature of the project.
6. Where an appeal is received from a processor (or from an applicant seeking accreditation as a processor), the Panel will also include the ONS Chief Security Officer.
7. The Appeals Panel will convene a meeting within 15 working days after the submission deadline for the appeal. The Appeals Panel will have access to all documents needed to reach a decision.
8. The RAP Secretariat will inform the appellant of the conclusion of the Appeals Panel within 15 working days of the Appeals Panel reaching a decision.
9. The Appeal Panel’s judgement is final and cannot be subject to further appeal.

6. Membership and role of members

1. The members of the RAP will include:
   1. an independent Chair (appointed by the National Statistician);
   2. at least three representatives of data providers in the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations;
   3. a senior representative of the National Statistician; and
   4. at least six independent members who should be senior researchers from different areas of specialism (e.g., social science, statistics, economics and data science) from a variety of different sectors (e.g., academia, commercial and third sector).
2. The Chair may invite other relevant experts as appropriate to advise the RAP.
3. The Chair, in conjunction with the Authority, may appoint one or more deputy chair(s) as appropriate. The deputy’s role will be to chair RAP meetings in the Chair’s absence and undertake other chair responsibilities.
4. All RAP members will sign a confidentiality undertaking to not disclose project application information or RAP strategic discussions to unauthorised third parties.
5. RAP members are required to exercise their functions of accreditation and the provision of strategic advice to the Authority in a manner that is free from personal or political influence or judgement.
6. RAP members are required to inform the RAP Secretariat of any outside interests relevant to the work of the Panel. Members are expected to inform the Secretariat and where appropriate recuse themselves from decisions that could create or be seen to create a conflict of interest.
7. Allocation of research project and processor applications to RAP members will be informed by members areas of expertise and any conflicts of interest.
8. From March 2026, RAP members will begin a five-year tenure. At the end of this period, RAP members will either renew their membership for another three years or leave the panel. Those who are RAP members by virtue of their office will not be subject to tenure arrangements.
9. Renewal of membership will take into account individual panel member’s attendance and performance metrics, in line with the expectations outlined in these terms of reference.
10. Reviews of membership will also be conducted on an ad hoc basis, where a panel members attendance and performance metrics fall short of the requirements outlined in these terms of reference. A review may result in a member being asked to leave the Panel.
11. If a member chooses to resign from the panel, a three-month notice period will be preferred. This can be negotiated depending on the circumstances of the resignation.
12. When a member leaves the panel, a replacement may be sought if a gap in members’ expertise is identified.
13. When required, research project applications will be submitted to RAP members via correspondence on a rolling basis. Members may receive up to four project applications via correspondence per month.
14. All RAP members (excluding the Chair) are required to receive and review project applications via correspondence. Members must provide comments, considerations, or accreditation decisions no later than five working days from receipt of the request for research accreditation.
15. All RAP members are required to inform the Secretariat of their periods of absence and their support staff’s contact details.

7. Quorum

1. The RAP meetings will be considered quorate when at least four or more members are present including the Chair or the Chair’s delegated nominee, and at least one independent member.
2. Substitutes will not be permitted to attend meetings without the prior agreement of the Chair.
3. When conducting business via correspondence outside of quarterly or extraordinary meetings, the RAP’s discussion and decisions will be considered quorate when at least four or more members provide written response, including at least one independent member.
4. Research project accreditation applications that are formally considered by correspondence must be explicitly approved by all assigned RAP members.

8. Secretariat

1. The Authority’s Legal and Data Services team will be responsible for the RAP’s secretariat, overseeing the appointment of members alongside the RAP Chair, organising meetings and ensuring that the RAP operates transparently. DEA Accredited Processing Environments and Government departments will be responsible for providing technical support to the secretariat including liaising with applicants, reviewing the research project accreditation applications, and applying the RAP’s project accreditation framework.

9. Review

1. The RAP are required to review the effectiveness of its meetings, terms of reference and performance, when invited to do so.

• 30 March 2026
• 29 June 2026
• 29 September 2026
• 15 December 2026

The Research Accreditation Panel is chaired by independent member Professor Paul Boyle CBE. Professor Boyle is currently Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University and was previously President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester from 2014 to 2019. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive of the Economic and Social Research Council from 2010 to 2014 and President of Science Europe, representing over 50 European funding agencies. Paul is Chair of the Scottish Science Advisory Council, which is Scotland’s highest level science advisory body; a Board Member of Universities UK, who provide leadership and support to executive heads of 133 UK University institutions as well as Chair of their Research Policy Network; Vice-President of the European University Association which represents over 800 universities in 48 countries; a Council Member and Trustee of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, which has over 500 member institutions in 37 Commonwealth countries and an ‘impact champion’ for the United Nations HeForShe global solidarity movement for gender equality.

Independent member Professor Chris Dibben is Chair in Geography at the University of Edinburgh, specialising in health and environment. He is also Director of the Longitudinal Studies Centre Scotland, Principal-Investigator on the Census & Administrative Data Longitudinal Hub and Director of the Administrative Data Liaison Service. Chris also leads the Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research hosted by the University of Edinburgh.

Independent member Tricia Dodd is a freelance statistical consultant working mainly with national survey organisations, charities and government departments. She previously held a number of Senior Civil Service positions within the Office for National Statistics including: Chief Methodology Officer at ONS (2016-2018), Deputy Director responsible for Crime and Regional Statistics, ONS (2013-2016) and Deputy Director responsible for Health Statistics and Life Events, ONS (2011-2013).

Independent member Andrew Garrett is Executive Vice President-Scientific Operations at ICON Plc. Between 1995 and 2016 he was Vice President-Clinical Analysis and Reporting Services at Quintiles, Inc. He has previously served on the Board of Directors at Cenduit LLC (2015) and the Administrative Data Research Network (2014-2017). Between 2017 and 2019 he was Chair of the Royal Statistical Society’s Data Science Section and is a member of the UK Data Forum.

Independent member Alex Singleton is a Professor of Geographic Information Science at the University of Liverpool, where he was appointed as a Lecturer in 2010. Previously he held research positions at University College London, where he was also awarded a PhD in 2007.

Independent member Ann Berrington is Professor in Demography and Social Statistics at the University of Southampton, with expertise in the area of family demography and life course inequalities. She is currently joint Head of the Department of Social Statistics and Demography and leads the Fertility and Family Strand of the Centre for Population Change. Ann is a member of the ESRC Strategic Advisory Network, the ESRC Expert Advisory Group on Data, Methods and Infrastructure, and the UKRI Population Research UK Programme Board.

Roger Halliday is Chief Executive of Research Data Scotland, which was established in 2020 to enable innovation in the public good through access and linkage of data around people, places and businesses. Roger was Scotland’s Chief Statistician from 2011 to April 2022. During that time he was also Scottish Government Chief Data Officer (2017-20), and jointly led Scottish Government Covid Analytical Team during the pandemic. Before that, he worked in the Department of Health in England as a policy analyst managing evidence for decision making across NHS issues.

He qualified with a degree in statistics in 1993 from St. Andrews University and joined the Government fast stream as an assistant statistician. He worked for various UK Government Departments and at the Scottish Government in a number of statistical and policy making roles. He became an honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow in 2019.

Sue Bateman is the Chief Data Officer for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Sue joined Defra in 2024 and leads work on how data and information are used to support the department’s own transformation journey. Sue is a longstanding civil servant with digital, data and strategy leadership experience – most recently having been the interim Government Chief Data Officer at Central Digital and Data Office where she led on the development and delivery of the National Data Strategy and Digital and Data Roadmap and the data sharing components of the Digital Economy Act 2017.

Martin Bowyer leads a team of talented and creative digital and security experts in the Central Digital and Data Office, the functional centre for digital technology in the UK Government. Based in the Cabinet Office, he works with the National Cyber Security Centre, cyber experts and digital teams across the public sector to provide pragmatic solutions to digital and cyber challenges. A co-author of the UK Government’s Cyber Security and Digital & Data Strategies, Martin brings practical experience to help deliver great digital services that are secure by design. Martin is also responsible for critical technical infrastructure used by the UK public sector.

Martin’s background is in Consulting. Before joining the UK Government, Martin delivered technology transformation programmes, technology consulting and assurance engagements and grew a successful public sector cyber business in a top tier consultancy.

Independent member Mark Brewin is Deputy Director for Data Sharing & Acquisition at HM Revenue & Customs. He has previously held various positions within the Civil Service, including serving as Head of Knowledge, Analysis and Intelligence’s Technology Management within HMRC’s Datalab & Transparency team.

Michael Chapman is Director of Data Access & Partnerships in NHS England’s Data & Analytics function. He is responsible for ensuring that patient data held by NHS England can be used safely, efficiently and transparently to improve health. Previously Michael has held leadership roles at Health Data Research UK’s Cambridge scientific site, Cancer Research UK, the National Cancer Research Institute and the National Cancer Intelligence Network.

Emma Gordon is Director of the Strategic Hub for ADR UK. Emma joined ADR UK from HM Treasury, where she led the team supporting government economists and social researchers across government. Prior to this, Emma was Head of Health Analysis at the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Sarah Henry represents the National Statistician on the Panel. Sarah is the Director of Methods, Data and Research at the Office for National Statistics. She was previously Head of Intelligence and Performance at Manchester City Council.

Mike Jones heads the Department for Work and Pension’s (DWP) Central Analysis and Science Strategy division and is DWP’s Deputy Chief Scientific Advisor.  His responsibilities include research governance, and oversight of DWP’s analytical data-sharing activity.  Mike has nearly 20 years’ experience in the Government Statistical Service, has worked in a variety of analytical and policy roles, and has previously served as Chief Statistician in both the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education (DfE).

Gez is currently acting as Deputy Chief Information Security Officer and Head of Cyber Security Technical Services (CSTS) for HMRC. Responsible for leading and delivering a range of cyber security services and cyber operational activities across HMRC.  Gez is also responsible for leading the Government Security Centre for Cyber (Cyber GSEC) which is run by HMRC on behalf of the Cabinet Office and the Government Security Group (GSG) and has been created to support the delivery of the Governments Cyber Security Strategy across HMG. Gez is an experienced Cyber Security professional with extensive experience across a number of security domains and sectors including HMG, MoD, NATO, SIA and the commercial sectors.

Philip Wales is the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) and Registrar General for Northern Ireland. In these capacities, he is responsible for the statistics produced by NISRA and for the registration of births, deaths, civil partnerships and adoptions in Northern Ireland. He is the co-Director of Administrative Data Research Northern Ireland, part of the wider ADR UK partnership. Before joining NISRA, Philip worked in a range of senior statistical roles in the Office for National Statistics, including on the UK Public Finances and Productivity.

Ally McAlpine is the Chief Statistician at the Scottish Government. In this role he is responsible for the production of Official Statistics and advisor to the First Minister and Cabinet Secretaries in Scotland. Ally is also the co-director Administrative Data Research Scotland. Prior to taking up this post he has extensive experience in agriculture, environmental and social justice statistics and a background in crime statistics where he worked as Performance Manager in Central Scotland Police.

Stephanie Howarth is Chief Statistician at the Welsh Government. In this role she is responsible for the statistics produced by Welsh Government and is the senior statistical advisor to Welsh Ministers. She is also the co-Director of Administrative Data Research Wales, part of the wider ADR UK partnership. Prior to this, she worked in a range of statistical roles in both the Welsh Government and the Office for National Statistics.