Members:

• Dame Julia Cleverdon (Chair)
• Tina Chui (Statistics Canada)
• Professor Jenny Gibson (University of Cambridge, Nesta)
• Professor Anthony Heath (University of Oxford)
• Lela Kogbara (Black Thrive Global)
• Si Chun Lam (West Midlands Combined Authority)
• Professor Tom Shakespeare (The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM))
• Dr Evelyn Collins (former Equality Commission for Northern Ireland; Honorary Professor at Queens)
• Nitesh Prakash (Partner at Bain & Company)
• Professor Shannon Vallor (University of Edinburgh)

Office for National Statistics (ONS):

• Emma Rourke
• Ruth Studley
• Dawn Snape
• Neil Bannister
• Becky Tinsley
• Alex Buckley
• Amie Dede-Benefor
• Kerry Earnshaw
• Abygail Tustin
• Jessica Kempinski
• Ryan Hill
• Shona Horter
• Jay Lindop
• Jesse Ransley
• Kara Steel
• Gerlinde Sansum
• Mike Bolton
• Georgia Brett
• Josephine Foubert

Additional attendees:

• Richard Laux (Cabinet Office)
• Scott Clifford (Welsh Government)
• Delphine Robineau (Department for Education)
• Professor Neil Humphrey (University of Manchester, #Beewell)
• Lucy Woodbine (Greater Manchester Combined Authority)
• Francis Markus (Greater Manchester Combined Authority)
• Professor Polly Vizard (London School of Economics)
• Professor Leon Feinstein (University of Oxford)
• Catherine Barham (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government)
• Saarah Nakhuda (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Apologies:

• Professor Uzo Iwobi (Race Council Cymru)
• Sam Freedman (Institute for Government)
• Mary Gregory (ONS)
• Darren Stillwell (Cabinet Office)

1. Welcome and introductions

1. The Chair welcomed members to the ninth meeting of the NSIDAC, with apologies from Professor Uzo Iwobi, Sam Freedman, Mary Gregory and Darren Stillwell. It was noted that Dr Milly Zimeta is no longer part of the Committee.
2. The Chair noted the themes of the ninth meeting are:
   • Future of Population and Migration Statistics and;
   • Data at the local level.
3. Due to the pre-election period the eight meeting was rescheduled from June to September 2024 and agenda items moved accordingly.
4. The meeting was held in Manchester to emphasise the theme of work with local level data. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) was invited to present for this reason. Additionally, two organisations working with children, a thematic priority for NSIDAC, were also invited.

2. Future of Population and Migration Statistics updates

Introduction: approach to Characteristics and Inclusion – for information

1. Neil Bannister presented on the ONS’ vision of Future of Population and Migration Statistics Programme (FPMS) to provide more frequent, timely and inclusive statistics using administrative data. He highlighted the attributes that are currently areas of focus and the challenges involved. The team is working collaboratively with devolved administrations to meet the needs of the current Government.
2. Shona Horter presented on planned qualitative research focusing on the experiences of Roma people in England and Wales. This research will explore lived experiences of Roma people and enable comparison with gypsies and traveller research. Findings will inform the FPMS programme.
3. Discussion centred around methods, with a suggestion that collecting accounts from community leaders could supplement the research. Josephine Foubert presented on the need for better data on disability and the exploration of use cases for admin-based solutions. This includes an investigation of under-explored data, to combine information sources and see what improvements can be made.
4. In the subsequent discussion, members offered support and information, on the potential use of commercial or local admin data sets and challenges in capturing the long-term nature of disability and its intersectionality.

Action:

ONS (Neil Banister) to feedback updates on the characteristics research.

Action:

ONS to explore with the Department for Education, what they can share regarding a report on Roma children in schools.

Action:

Dame Julia Cleverdon to introduce Shona Horter to Four Square Homeless Charity, Edinburgh.

Action:

Dame Julia Cleverdon suggested that Shona Horter engaged with Professor Uzo Iwobi as a member of the Roma Advisory Panel the team is establishing.

Action:

Shona Horter to have a meeting with Anthony Heath on the Roma research.

Action:

Shona Horter to present the progress of her research to NSIDAC in 2025.

Action:

Professor Tom Shakespeare to discuss his work on disability with Josephine Foubert.

Further updates from Emma Rourke and Ruth Studley

1. Emma Rourke gave an overview of the current use of administrative date and its future use. Ruth Studley added that increased data frequency should produce better evidenced policy now and in the future.
2. Members of the Committee expressed an interest in learning more about the use of administrative data, especially when related to underrepresented groups.

Action:

Secretariat to email the slides to Committee members.

3. Equalities and Inclusion newsletter – for discussion

1. This item was not covered.

Action:

Secretariat to email the slides to Committee members.

4. Review of minutes and key actions

Action:

Members of the Committee to give feedback on the minutes of the March meeting by email to the Secretariat.

5. Proposed Discovery research on non-private household populations – for discussion

1. Jesse Ransley presented on her proposed discovery research which was developed with Catherine Barham (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government). The research will explore non-private household populations in local administrative data sources. She outlined some of the issues including how we define ‘living spaces’ and identifying members of this population. It was noted that FPMS is driving research in this area. The ONS will be working with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to produce a case study to better understand peoples living spaces and cross-cutting vulnerabilities.
2. In the following discussion ethical considerations were highlighted in terms of maintaining trust and gathering data. Also, there was a desire to explore the difference between homelessness in rural and urban populations, and the experience of people leaving institutional care.

Action:

The NSIDAC Chair suggested that Jesse Ransley contact the Chief Executive of Centre Point in London to discuss the issue of homelessness and employment.

6. ONS Local

1. Becky Tinsley explained how ONS Local was formed and how its work has developed. They focus on regional needs and work closely with devolved governments and local authorities. The theme of place and ensuring decision-making based on local user needs are central.
2. New projects were outlined including delivering workshops to build capability, increasing knowledge of rural areas and mapping digital exclusion at a local level.
3. The following discussion covered connecting with the right networks and publishing research. ONS Local noted their stakeholder engagement strategy and encouraged subscribing to their newsletter.
4. The role of FPMS in their work was discussed, with mention that more timely data would add value. However, currently, greater data sources were needed to provide granularity to better explore intersectionality and inequalities at a local level.

Action:

The Chair invited all Committee members to become an advocate for ONS local.

7. Equalities data at a local level

1. Greater Manchester Combined Authority presented on the use of equality data at a local level. The Great Manchester Strategy (2021) has a commitment to ‘good lives for all’ and is looking at how inequalities intersect. They outlined how they are looking to address known gaps in the granularity of data by generating local data. In addition, they have also used Census data to explore ethnic breakdown by age and place across the region.
2. Data gaps and needs were highlighted, which included differing definitions in recording and data surrounding children and young people. It was noted that they currently use the census to support policy development, evaluation and for targeting service delivery.
3. Housing and Homeless research was presented, including the Good Landlord Charter scheme. Currently evidence on the private rented sector is poor but steps are being taken to address this. Also, the Women’s rough sleeping census 2023, which has been produced annually since 2017, is providing a snapshot of a population who do not appear in national data.
4. The following discussion explored how research has informed policy in Manchester and explored how other local authorities can take inspiration from the work done to inform their own practice.

8. Children’s information: Improving lives through better listening and better data

1. Professor Polly Vizard and Professor Leon Feinstein presented on this five-year programme funded by the Nuffield foundation.
2. The Children’s Information Project is underpinned by the hypothesis that local children’s services can be improved through better use of children’s information. This is being tested with four information use projects co-produced with local authorities. Oldham and Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, are two case studies. They explore a range of topics with the outcome that information produced can be useful for local services and families.
3. Their research team have been working at the local level to learn more about underrepresented groups, especially children who are missed. It has been possible to produce new evidence on Gypsy and Roma children and young people from census and school system data. However, there are issues around data exclusion, missingness in the data and linkage.
4. In the discussion, the under underrepresentation of children under five years old in research was flagged.

9. BeeWell Survey in Manchester

1. Professor Neil Humphrey, from the University of Manchester, presented on this survey which investigates the wellbeing, and drivers of wellbeing, of pupils in secondary schools. It operates predominantly in Manchester but had been extended to other areas.
2. The project has initiatives to reach underserved groups, including young people with Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), those in alternative provision education and LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, or another diverse gender identity) young people. They have provided adjusted versions of the survey, giving choice in how young people can respond and worked to develop trust.
3. Other underserved groups highlighted were young people who are electively home educated and young people who have migrated to the UK. It has been difficult to reach those home educated as surveys are predominantly run through schools. There is little standardised data about pupils who have migrated to the UK.
4. During the discussion, committee members examined how survey-based work could combine with qualitative methods. There was also interest around how this research feeds into policy, especially in Greater Manchester.

Action:

Neil Humphrey requested connecting with Polly Vizard and Leon Feinstein to discuss shared areas of interest.

Action:

Neil to report additional findings on Home Schooled pupils when available.

10. Forward agenda items

1. This item was not covered.
2. The next in person meeting will take place in London on Wednesday 11th December 2024.