Members:

• Dame Julia Cleverdon (Chair)
• Tina Chui (Statistics Canada)
• Professor Anthony Heath (University of Oxford)
• Lela Kogbara (Black Thrive Global)
• Si Chun Lam (West Midlands Combined Authority)
• Dr Evelyn Collins (former Equality Commission for Northern Ireland; Honorary Professor at Queens)
• Nitesh Prakash (Partner at Bain & Company)

Office for National Statistics (ONS):

• Ruth Studley
• Fiona Dawe
• Dawn Snape
• Joanne Evans
• Amie Dede-Benefor
• Ryan Hill
• Abygail Tustin
• Jessica Kempinski
• Gerlinde Sansum
• Esther Taylor
• Rachel McSweeney
• Joy Preece
• Veronique Siegler
• Alice Davies
• Laura Evans
• DJ Oguntimehin

Additional attendees:

• Richard Laux (Cabinet Office)

Apologies:

• Professor Uzo Iwobi (Race Council Cymru)
• Professor Jenny Gibson (University of Cambridge, Nesta)
• Professor Shannon Vallor (University of Edinburgh)
• Professor Tom Shakespeare (The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM))

1. Welcome and introductions

1. The Chair welcomed members to the tenth meeting of the NSIDAC. It was noted that Sam Freedman had stood down from the Committee and this was Tina Chui’s final meeting. The Chair thanked both for their valuable contributions.
2. The Chair declared her new role as Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund to the Committee.
3. The Chair stated that the secretariat was keen to involve the Committee at an earlier stage in inclusivity workplans for advice. To do so from January 2025 meetings would be increasing in frequency to monthly from January 2025.
4. Richard Laux (Cabinet Office) gave an update on the proposed National Disability Survey, that aims to collect data on the barriers and obstacles faced by disabled people. It was noted that there was renewed ministerial commitment in this area. Richard will inform the Committee of any updates. The Chair indicated that she was keen to support conversations with Sir Stephen Timms MP (Minister of State (Minister for Social Security and Disability) if helpful in progressing the proposed survey.

2. Review of minutes and key actions 

1. The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed via email.

3. For information: Inclusion Inclusive Data Taskforce (IDTF) Quarterly Update – Ryan Hill, ONS

1. Ryan Hill presented an update of the status of the 43 key IDTF commitments that are organised under the eight Inclusive Data Principles. These are monitored quarterly by the ONS who are reaching out to commitment holders for their final updates on the RAG (Red, Amber, Green) status of the commitments. The final annual progress report is expected to be published in the summer of 2025.
2. In the discussion there was a consensus that the IDFT recommendations were ambitious and part of a longer-term project focusing on inclusivity in data. There was a desire for more information of what has and has not been achieved.
3. The committee suggested that commitments that have not reached a RAG status of complete or green should be considered within the context in which the IDTF recommendations were implemented. For example: resourcing issues; a need to adapt to shifting societal needs; and a change in the overall trust levels in data.

4. How can primary data collection enhance inclusivity in an admin-data first system? Update on Government Statistical Service Harmonisation workplans – Joy Preece, ONS

1. Joy Preece presented the work being undertaken by the ONS’ Harmonisation team, in three prioritised topics: ethnicity, disability, and sex and gender identity.
   • Ethnicity – a review has been carried out on the current standard and cognitive interviewing and iterative question development are ongoing.
   • Disability – the team were engaging with groups to explore the development of a harmonised standard.
   • Sex and gender identity – a new workplan has been published, detailing the commencement of a refreshed discovery phase, engagement with stakeholders to understand user needs and the development of a new standard. The team plan to engage producers of official statistics ensuring a plurality of views and transparency in their work. They will emphasise the importance of incorporating the eight Inclusive Data Principles and measuring progress from the outset.

Action:

Secretariat to share the published Sex and Gender Identity workplan with Committee members.

Action:

Slides to be shared with Jenny Gibson and her advice sought.

5. Exploring the potential of citizen- generated data: Planned pilot work on citizen-generated data and what it could contribute – Esther Taylor (ONS), Rachel McSweeney (ONS)

1. Esther Taylor and Rachel McSweeney presented the aims of the team’s work to engage citizens and civil society organizations (COs) with the objective of building trust and social cohesion. This approach is based on the theory that greater citizen involvement leads to better data.
2. The Copenhagen Framework for citizen data was being utilized to explore levels of participation, from consulting citizens to inviting them to be more active in data collection and design. Potential benefits included building trust in the process and promoting inclusive decision-making.
3. The research design will take an inductive and qualitative research strategy. The team will use a case study approach and variety of methods to gain insights from which to develop recommendations on best practice.
4. Committee members were asked for their views on the citizen data approach for its inclusivity, ethics and for capturing under-represented groups. In the discussion, there was consensus that the work was exciting and important, but that ONS should hold itself to the highest standards. Potential challenges included the difficulties of using this approach at a national level along with the risk of compromising trust in data collection when it is usurped by issue-based groups.

6. Maximising inclusivity in ONS’s existing surveys: Leaving no one behind – Inclusivity in ONS Social survey data collection – Alice Davies & Véronique Siegler (ONS)

1. Véronique Siegler outlined the challenges and developments occurring across ONS’ social surveys. The complex picture was highlighted as an opportunity for greater inclusivity.
2. The challenges faced included declining response rates and difficulty in recruiting skilled interviewers. However, in this area technological developments were in progress, such as increased use of online surveys and the exploration of administrative data. Other workstreams included the piloting of a marketing campaign to improve trust.
3. In 2021 the Inclusivity in Social Survey Data Collection programme was initiated, this included projects to identify barriers across the survey journey and develop recommendations. These included greater personalisation of the survey journey, offering alternative communication options, improving signposting to support options, increased training for interviewers, and offering an end-to-end survey in British Sign Language (BSL).
4. Questions were put to the Committee for advice and comment. These concerned the importance of inclusivity within social surveys and what potential priorities should be to maximise inclusivity with their approach.
5. The following discussion stressed the importance of building inclusivity into ONS’ work to understand change in a diverse society. The need to build trust and increase participation was reiterated as a matter of importance. It was also suggested that learning from previous experiences should be prioritised.

7. Evaluating how far we’ve come and identifying future directions. Taking stock of progress to date & what worked (or didn’t): Proposed evaluation of progress towards the IDTF Implementation Plan and lessons learned – Dawn Snape (ONS)

1. Dawn Snape gave a brief overview of the aims of the IDTF Evaluation project that will cover the period from 2020-25 and aims to examine how well the recommendations have been implemented and explore potential to improve ONS’ work to support inclusiveness across the UK system. The views of a range of stakeholders, who have been involved in the inception and implementation of the IDTF, will be gathered.
2. In the discussion there was agreement that the focus was appropriate, and the evaluation was valuable. Concerns were raised about the extent of progress being made in areas such as, harmonisation across the four countries of the UK, particularly in education statistics.

Action:

The Secretariat to explore the potential to have a future NSIDAC agenda item covering UK coherence in education.

8. Reviewing the Committee’s achievements over the year – Amie Dede-Benefor (ONS) Feedback session – Led by Dame Julia Cleverdon

1. Amie Dede-Benefor presented findings from the end of year survey completed by Committee members that sought feedback on the role of the Committee over the past year. Areas that worked well were the effectiveness of the secretariat and the Committees role in keeping inclusivity on the ONS’ agenda. Areas for improvement were identified, including increasing the diversity of panel members and for the secretariat to put challenges, as well as successes, to the Committee to better utilize their expertise.
2. The responses identified themes that would be desirable to focus on next year, such as disability, public trust, non-household populations and addressing the responses given by the Committee to the FPMS consultation.
3. The Chair led the discussion on the topics raised by the survey and the shape and purpose of the NSIDAC for the following year.
4. The Committee members were clear on their remit. It was reiterated that interrogating inclusivity related research plans at an early stage in its development should be put to the Committee for advice. The Secretariat were called on by members to assess the NSIDACs effectiveness for adding value to ONS’ work.
5. The diversity of membership was discussed with suggestions that additional representation was needed to provide an international perspective. This could be achieved by reaching out to organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) or Eurostat. The members also noted that increased regional voices, covering the four nations, and younger members could add value (examples given included,  The Advocacy Academy and the UK Youth Parliament).

Action:

Secretariat to consider the need for increased diversity when recruiting new membership to NSIDAC.

9. Any other business / date of next meeting – Dame Julia Cleverdon

1. There were no items of any other business.
2. Date of the next meeting is Tuesday 28th January 2025.

10. Finish & Close – Dame Julia Cleverdon