Foreword from the Acting National Statistician

This page is available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

The Inclusive Data Taskforce (IDTF) was established in October 2020, with the goal of ensuring data and evidence across the UK is reflective and inclusive of everybody, so that “everyone in society counts and is counted and no one is left behind”. Since the publication of the IDTF recommendations we have been reporting progress towards the recommendations that were developed to help achieve a more inclusive system.

This year’s report provides an overview of the continued progress in making data collection, production and accessibility more inclusive. Encouragingly, IDTF metrics show that 88% of the 339 projects are either completed or on track, reflecting positive action across the system over the past three years.

This positive action and progress across the system over the past three years is an encouraging base from which to assess the way forward. We have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders to understand what has worked well and where improvements are needed. We have also examined the challenges faced by projects that struggled to deliver, identifying lessons that will strengthen future implementation.

The main findings show that the IDTF has had impact across government, helping to raise the importance of and support work to improve the inclusivity of data and analysis. However, to ensure that the recommendations continue to provide a sustainable framework to promote and guide improvements in inclusive data we must take heed of the areas that did not work as well and look at how we can strengthen the effectiveness of this moving forward.

The findings also highlight the importance of strong leadership and continuing engagement to develop a shared and sustained priority for inclusiveness to be embedded in initiatives across the statistical system. This is even more important in an era of financial constraint and needs to be a priority consideration for the future. The IDTF remains an important framework to guide progress towards improving inclusive data and our challenge is to rebuild momentum to continue this work.

Finally, this is an opportune moment to thank Dame Julia Cleverdon for her leadership and service in chairing my Inclusive Data Advisory Committee since its inception and to also thank the committee members who have served alongside her. I now look forward to welcoming our new chair, Professor Evelyn Collins, as well as the new members joining the committee this Autumn.

I’m confident this progress report and evaluation of what’s worked well and not so well in implementing the recommendations of the Inclusive Data Taskforce will provide valuable insights to inform our continuing journey towards more inclusive data.