ANNEX I: The remit of the Inclusive Data Taskforce

The remit of the Inclusive Data Taskforce

In October 2020, the National Statistician established an independent Inclusive Data Taskforce to develop recommendations on how best to make a step-change in the inclusivity of UK data and evidence in a broad range of areas, such as:

• The 9 protected characteristics of the Equality Act (ie age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; and sexual orientation);
• Additional areas associated with the Sustainable Development Goals (eg, income; migrant status; and geography);
• Other topics that would allow contextual and cross-cutting insights into equalities (eg, socioeconomic status, access to the natural environment, intersectionality); and
• Data on those at risk of greater disadvantage or who may be ‘missing’ from household surveys (eg, homeless people, those not resident in private households).

The Taskforce focused on ‘a wide range of populations and groups that may be at greater risk of disadvantage, discrimination, or marginalisation, both generally and in our statistical picture of the UK’.

The remit of the National Statistician’s Inclusive Data Advisory Committee

Following conclusion of the Inclusive Data Taskforce (IDTF) a new National Statistician’s Inclusive Data Advisory Committee has been established. Like the IDTF, the Committee members are a diverse group of senior academics and civil society leaders who collectively have wide ranging equalities. The Committee is part of the framework established to monitor and review progress towards the recommendations of the Taskforce (recommendation 2.1). They provide independent advice to the National Statistician on aspects such as:

• Prioritisation of initiatives, providing scrutiny and challenge to the progress being made
• Updating harmonised data standards, and how best to consult on changes
• Improving data accessibility and engaging the public
• Potential collaborations to develop the work

The Committee was established in October 2022 and is chaired by Dame Julia Cleverdon.