Present:

• Sir David Norgrove (Chair)
• Ms Sian Jones (Deputy Chair)
• Ms Sam Beckett
• Ms Helen Boaden
• Professor Sir Ian Diamond
• Mr Richard Dobbs
• Professor David Hand
• Professor Jonathan Haskel
• Mr Ed Humpherson
• Ms Nora Nanayakkara
• Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter

Also in attendance:

• Mr Jonathan Athow
• Mr Nick Bateson
• Mr Iain Bell
• Mr Owen Brace
• Mr Robert Bumpstead
• Mr Douglas Cameron (Secretariat)
• Mr Duane Carey (for item 6)
• Mr Raf Cobb (for item 6)
• Mr Phillip Davies (for item 6)
• Ms Sarah Fisher (for item 6)
• Ms Steffi Gijji (for item 6)
• Ms Megan Green (for item 6)
• Ms Mary Gregory (for item 12)
• Ms Sally-Ann Jones (Secretariat)
• Mr Will Laffan (for item 11)
• Ms Zoe Moore (for item 6)
• Ms Alison Pritchard
• Ms Emma Rourke (for item 10)
• Ms Palvi Shah (for item 6)
• Mr Bill South (for item 6)
• Ms Ruth Studley (for item 6)
• Mr James Tierney (for item 6)
• Ms Nicola Tyson-Payne (for item 14)
• Ms Amy Williams (Secretariat)

Apologies

• Professor Anne Trefethen

1. Presentation from the Northern Ireland Statistics Research Agency (NISRI)
1.1 Sir David welcomed Ms Siobhan Carey, (Chief Executive and Registrar General, NISRA) and Mr Chris Ganley to the meeting.
1.2 The Board heard about the priorities and challenges facing NISRA, including the work on EU Exit analyses and with ONS on the 2021 Census.
1.3 The Board and Sir Ian noted their thanks to Ms Carey and Mr Ganley for an excellent presentation.
2. Apologies
2.1 Apologies were received from Professor Anne Trefethen.
3. Declarations of interest
3.1 Mr Dobbs had noted a conflict of interest regarding the COVID-19 Infection Survey agenda item in advance of the meeting.
4. Minutes and matters arising from previous meetings
4.1 The minutes of the previous meeting held on 29 October 2020 were agreed.
5. Report from the Authority Chair
5.1 Non-executive directors had met prior to the Board. They had discussed statistical quality and legacy transformation.
5.2 The Chair reported on his recent activity since the Board last met:
i. Sir David had discussed the transparency and communication of data related to COVID-19 with Prof. Chris Whitty, ahead of Mr Humpherson’ s letter to Prof. Whitty on 5 November;
ii. Sir David had met Mr Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England on 9
November;
iii. Sir David alongside Sir Ian had met Welsh Government Officials on 10 November to discuss the Authority strategy; and
iv. on 25 November Sir David and the Chancellor of the Exchequer had responded to the joint consultation on reforming the methodology of the Retail Prices Index (RPI).
The Chancellor had acknowledged the statistical case for the Authority’s proposed changes to the RPI, but was unable to offer his consent to the implementation before 2030. It was noted that it is the Authority’s policy to address the shortcomings of the RPI in full at the earliest practical time. The change proposed could legally and practically be made by the Authority in February 2030.
5.3 Sir David Spiegelhalter reported on his attendance, in a personal capacity, at the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Data Transparency and Accountability: COVID-19 Inquiry on 24 November. Both Prof. David Hand and Prof. Trefethen had e-visited the Data Science Campus on 11 November, and agreed the content of the report that Prof Hand presented.
6. Report from the Chief Executive [SA(20)68]
6.1 Sir Ian provided the Board with an overview of activity and issues for November, highlighting the following:
i. the ONS-Health Data Research UK partnership continued to make good progress on the COVID-19 National Core Studies Programme. It was enabling the UK to use health data and research to inform decision making, as well as accelerating progress to establish a health data and research infrastructure for the future;
ii. with regard to improving access to health data the ONS continued to hold meetings with NHS Digital;
iii. the developments to migration statistics using alternative data sources;
iv. the forthcoming Lancet Public Health paper in relation to the COVID-19 Infection Survey; and
v. the recently published report by the Economic Centre of Excellence on the Public Understanding of Economics and Economic Statistics.
6.2 At this point the following members of the cross-directorate CIS team joined the meeting: Ms Ruth Studley, Ms Palvi Shah, Mr Raf Cobb, Ms Steffi Gijji, Ms Megan Green, Mr James Tierney, Ms Sarah Fisher, Mr Bill South, Ms Zoe Moore, Mr Phillip Davies and Mr Duane Carey. Sir Ian reported on the significant achievement by the team on CIS statistics to support and inform decision making. Sir David commended all those involved for working ‘above and beyond’ to produce the data, noting that the
Board was ‘proud’ of the achievement and all those involved.
7. Report from the Director General for Regulation [SA(20)70]
7.1 Mr Humpherson provided an update on regulation activity since the last meeting. Mr Humpherson reported progress of OSR’s review of the approach to developing statistical models designed for awarding 2020 exam results. A further discussion was scheduled for Regulation Committee with the aim of publishing the report in the New Year.
8. Report from the Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee
8.1 Ms Nanayakkara reported on the work of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, which had met on 12 November 2020.
8.2 Committee members had considered:
i. the current financial position;
ii. the proposed approach to the organisation’s response to the Spending Review;
iii. the developing risk and assurance framework for the CIS;
iv. the progress by the Commercial Service team regarding contract management; and
v. progress on the work around statistical quality with oversight by the Quality Committee;
8.3 Ms Nanayakkara noted that progress had been made to develop and embed the risk management framework across the organisation. The Committee had been assured by the recent report on the Operational Readiness of the Census, which concluded that the successful delivery of the Census collection was feasible.
9. Census and Data Collection Transformation Programme [SA(20)76]
9.1 Mr Bell and Ms Tyson-Payne introduced a paper which provided an update on the programme with a focus on the Operational Readiness for the Census and questionnaire guidance.
9.2 Mr Bell reported that the judgement on the judicial review had found that the decision not to include a Sikh tick box under the ethnicity question in the 2021 Census was lawful. Progress was being made to finalise the guidance for the sex question, with the methodology to be considered by the Methodology and Assurance Panel. As noted already in meeting the recent Operational Readiness Review had concluded the successful delivery of the Census collection was feasible, with the team effectively managing the challenges going forward. The digital build and testing were on track and the acquisition of administrative data remained a key focus.
9.3 The Board welcomed the update and noted the progress made.
10. COVID-19 Infection Survey and Surveillance Studies [SA(20)72]
10.1 Ms Rourke and Mr Bell introduced a paper which provided an update on the COVID-19 Infection Survey (CIS) programme and wider surveillance studies.
10.2 Mr Bell highlighted the continued successful delivery and impact of the CIS. The School Surveillance Study had been launched. As noted earlier in the meeting, the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee had received an update on the developing risk framework. The management of complaints had improved with a reduction in the overall escalation of concerns.
10.3 The Board heard about the range of work on surveillance studies and ONS’s role in analysing data from the CIS and the Opinions and Lifestyle survey. The ONS was leading on the work regarding the coherence of health statistics with the Devolved Administrations and the English Health Statistics Steering Group.
10.4 Board members discussed the longer-term strategic development of the CIS and the opportunities to adapt the model to meet a broader range of needs.
11. EU Transition [SA(20)73]
11.1 Mr Laffan introduced a paper which provided a further update on the work of the Authority’s EU Exit Programme, following on from papers provided to the Board in September and October.
11.2 Mr Laffan informed the meeting of the developments and preparations for the end of the end of the transition period. A phased approach had been developed to establish the domestic advisory functions to support the UK’s framework for economic statistics. A review of the new arrangements would be included in OSR’s work programme. It was noted that these arrangements could not be finalised until the broader UK-EU relationship was clear.
11.3 With regard to statistics and analysis the Board heard that ONS was working collaboratively with other departments to ensure government had the latest data and analysis following the EU transition.
11.4 The Board endorsed the plans in place following the EU transition.
12. Interventions Policy [SA(20)74]
12.1 Ms Gregory and Mr Humpherson introduced a paper which provided a summary of the changes to the Authority Interventions Policy and plans for publication.
12.2 Board members discussed the scope, impact and users of the policy. The Board agreed that the draft policy could be published for comment in December.
13. Integrated Data Programme [SA(20)75]
13.1 Ms Pritchard introduced a paper which provided an update on progress and structure of the Integrated Data Programme (IDP).
13.2 Board members heard about the vision and purpose of the IDP. Plans were in place to develop the full business case by March 2021. A review by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority would be undertaken in the New Year.
13.3 The Board noted the update.
14. Strategic Review [SA(20)71]
14.1 Mr Bateson introduced a paper which set out the approach to Spending Review (SR). A phased approach would be undertaken for a rapid strategic review of the organisation in the context of the SR settlement. The phased approach had been agreed by the National Statistics Executive Group, and an update had been provided at the recent Audit and Risk Assurance Committee meeting.
14.2 Board members noted the approach to the strategic review and would remain engaged as the work progressed.
15. Strategic Business Plan update [SA(20)69]
15.1 Mr Bateson introduced a paper which provided an update on the delivery of the business plan at 31 October 2020.
15.2 The Board noted the report, which was discussed as part of the previous item.
16. Any other business
16.1 The Authority Board would meet next on 15 December by videoconference.