Introduction

The National Statistician has committed to improve data inclusivity across the UK statistical system by taking a system wide approach in identifying and collaborating on initiatives so that everyone counts and is counted in UK data and evidence. This includes activities to build trust with those participating in data supply, methodological work to improve inclusion and conceptual measurement of currently under-represented population groups, and improvements in the accessibility of data and analysis.

At the end of September 2021, the report and recommendations of the Inclusive Data Taskforce (IDTF) were published. The report made 46 recommendations categorised under 8 Inclusive Data Principles. Alongside this, the National Statistician published his response, including a high-level work programme of initial activities being undertaken across UK government and the Devolved Administrations to respond to the recommendations.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has led the production of the Inclusive Data Taskforce Implementation Plan below, which summarises known current and planned initiatives across the UK statistical system. This Plan presents a first step in joining up the work across analysts in the governments across the UK, and with initiatives happening outside government. It represents an ongoing programme of work to make the step-change needed in UK data infrastructure. It is important to acknowledge that organisations may be in different places on the journey to greater inclusivity. Some initiatives represent important first steps, though may not yet fully address the IDTF recommendations, while others may be seen as beacons of promising practice.

To develop this Implementation Plan, ONS reached out in a number of ways to collate its content. This included UK government departments and the Devolved Administrations and more widely across the system of data producers and users in the UK, inviting information from civil society organisations, academic institutions and research funders as to how they will respond to the IDTF recommendations. For brevity, we have included initiatives under the Inclusive Data Principle to which we think it best relates, although it could be of relevance to several different principles.

ONS, the Cabinet Office’s Equality Hub and the Devolved Administrations of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will play a collaborative convening role in bringing people together across sectors and disciplines, to build collaborations and join up plans, to produce systemic change towards greater inclusivity of UK data and evidence. Going forward, we will endeavour to take a 4 nations approach ‘as default’ in everything we do in relation to inclusivity.

As we collectively make progress the Plan will evolve, and ONS will seek further information and publish updated versions annually. As well as providing the basis for monitoring progress, we hope that publishing the information we have gathered from so many actors across government, civil society and academia will make it easier for those working on similar activities to join-up and add value to each other’s work.

An independent committee on inclusive data is currently being established to advise the National Statistician on ongoing improvement in data inclusivity, its related quality and coverage, and how well progress is being made against the IDTF recommendations. In collaboration with key stakeholders and data producers across the UK statistical system, ONS will develop and set up, in Spring 2022, a governance mechanism to deliver and publicly report on the IDTF Implementation Plan.

How to comment: Please send any comments or feedback on the Plan, including for future iterations, to equalities@ons.gov.uk

The Implementation Plan will shortly be made available online in PDF format as well as in Polish, Romanian, Punjabi, Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic and Farsi. We will also be making an Easy Read version available. If you require a different language or format, including a paper copy, please contact equalities@ons.gov.uk or call 0800 298 5313 to request this.