Next Meeting: 12 December 2024, Remote Meeting

Members present

• Professor David Hand (Chair)
• Professor Paul Allin
• Eva Aizpurua
• Dame Kate Barker
• Helen Boaden
• Professor Paul Boyle
• Sarah Cumbers
• Professor Sir Ian Diamond
• Ed Humpherson
• Phyllis MacFarlane
• Sarah Moore
• Guy Nason

Additional attendees

• Nicola Fulton (for item 4)
• Liz Evans (for item 5)
• Mette Isaksen (for item 2)
• Liz McKeown (for item 6)

Secretariat

• Kerri Gourley
• Tom Marsh

Apologies

• James Brooks

1. Minutes and matters arising

1. Members were welcomed to the meeting. Apologies were received from James Brooks. Action 02/24 remained open. Members heard that whilst action 04/24 had been closed at a previous meeting, a follow up meeting was due to take place to capture Carers UK’s data needs with regards to whether the Future of Population and Migration Statistics would sufficiently meet their needs.
2. It was noted that the Code of Practice Refresh was due to take place with a consultation taking place imminently.
3. Members were informed that, following the Lievesley Review, the organisation was seeking to improve the transparency of the various National Statistician advisory committees and the proposed steps would be considered at the November UK Statistics Authority Board meeting.

2. Discussion with User (Mette Isaksen) [NSEUAC(24)12]

1. Mette Isaksen Head of Research at Shelter UK joined the meeting to reflect on their perspective as a user of statistics. The following key points were made:
   1. the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) recent consultation on homeless deaths data was discussed, Shelter UK were pleased this data collection would continue, however there were ways the data could be improved, such as using the statutory definition of homelessness to improve the accuracy of deaths reporting. A high proportion of homeless deaths were reported to a coroner which often caused delays to the reporting process. ONS agreed to work with the Ministry of Justice to try and improve how quickly data relating to these deaths would be included in official statistics;
   2. Shelter UK would encourage the use of additional variables to provide a better breakdown of homelessness demographics data and improve analysis of characteristic intersectionality and understand communities disproportionately affected by homelessness. Members discussed the importance of reporting against consistent definitions, and reflected on recent reporting of significant changes to the cost of housing homeless persons which was due to varying definitions year on year;
   3. on social housing demand, data was collected on the social housing applicant but not for the rest of the household which would help understand the experiences of different characteristics;
   4. private rent affordability was discussed as publications by ONS and across government published data on housing affordability and both use gross income, rather than the net measure, which may be less reflective of a household’s expendable income. It was acknowledged that getting accurate data on affordability would be crucial and the ONS would look to work with Shelter UK to obtain more granular data on affordability; and
   5. the National Statistician agreed the ONS would continue to collaborate with Shelter UK to improve the quality and usefulness of homelessness and housing affordability statistics.

3. User Engagement with StatsUserNet [NSEUAC(24)13]

1. Professor Paul Allin introduced a paper on proposed changes to the StatsUserNet website and explored engagement between users and producers of official statistics. Members heard that the ONS was re-platforming the StatsUserNet website and users were concerned with the loss of archived content older than three months. Members also heard three proposals to improve engagement between users and producers of official statistics which included, reinstatement in the Code of Practice, to the reference to consulting users before producers make substantial changes to data collection or outputs, as referenced in the Lievesley Review; re-energising the GSS User Engagement Strategy, and using the upcoming UK Statistics Assembly as an exemplar of effective and sustained user engagement between producers and users of official statistics. Members agreed that it would be important to archive historic material on StatsUserNet to retain access.
2. On user engagement, members discussed ways to make the National Statisticians Expert User Advisory Committee more accessible and easier to contact. Correspondence had been sent to the Chair by Tony Dent on this topic which included three recommendations:
   1. minutes of the National Statistician’s Advisory Committees to be published within two weeks of the meeting and announced on StatsUserNet;
   2. members of National Statistician’s Advisory Committees to engage in discussions on StatsUserNet and engaged in the production of statistics; and
   3. the UK Statistics Authority to advertise the existence of StatsUserNet to a wider audience and participation from a wider audience.
3. Members agreed that it was unrealistic to expect minutes to be published within two weeks. However, the National Statistician committed to ensuring minutes of National Statistician Advisory Committees would be submitted to the respective committee Chair within ten working days of the meeting, and published as soon as is practicable thereafter but marked as draft until adopted by the committee. Members also agreed that it would be beneficial to introduce an introductory page to StatsUserNet to provide information about the website’s purpose. Members also requested an item on the GSS User Engagement Strategy at a future meeting.

4. Update on UK Statistics Assembly Plans [NSEUAC(24)14]

1. Sarah Moore provided an update on plans for the UK Statistics Assembly. Members heard that approximately 285 attendees had signed up and there had been 13 calls for contributions. Members of the National Statistician’s Expert User Advisory Committee (NSEUAC) would be drafting a report from the Assembly which would be submitted to the UK Statistics Authority Board. Members also heard that, following feedback from NSEUAC, the team had been working to make the event as inclusive and interactive as possible.
2. Members discussed the size of the breakout groups at the assembly, and asked that each session was provided with a facilitator and rapporteur, who would support the production of NSEUAC’s report to the UK Statistics Authority Board. Members also discussed that the majority sign-ups for the assembly were from the public sector and asked ONS to encourage attendees from elsewhere, such as the financial sector, to sign up as key users of statistics.
3. Members welcomed the progress on the Assembly and it was agreed that a rapporteur would be in attendance at each group at the Assembly.

5. Content Strategy and Website Transformation [NSEUAC(24)15]

1. Liz Evans introduced a paper on the ONS Content Strategy and Website Transformation. Members heard that whilst the ONS website was a critical channel to deliver statistics it was urgently in need of improvement, as outlined in the Lievesley Review. Members heard that users would be at the heart of website transformation and the goals of website transformation were outlined.
2. Members were pleased with the focus on Application Programming Interfaces as this was necessary to improve the website. Members also discussed the importance of including users throughout the website transformation process. It was noted when deciding to take pages off the website there needed to be a balance between ensuring the website was accessible for present users and ensuring historic data would remain accessible.
3. Members welcomed the update and were pleased with the progress made.

6. Transformed Labour Force Survey (TLFS) [NSEUAC(24)16]

1. Liz McKeown provided an update on the TLFS. Members discussed the challenges associated with transitioning to the TLFS and the associated user engagement approach to ensure users were kept informed of progress and enhance understanding. A stakeholder advisory panel had also been set up for labour market statistics to provide external expertise.
2. Reweighting and survey response rates were discussed, including the feasibility of introducing mandatory responses; however it was noted that this would be a significant change to survey collection in England and Wales as it would entail a change in legislation. Members also discussed changes to ONS incentivisation for interviewers to help improve response rates, and shortening survey length.
3. Members noted the progress made in transitioning to the TLFS and welcomed the level of user engagement underway which would lead to a more effective and useful product.

7. Any other business

1. The next meeting was due to take place via MS Teams on 12 December 2024.