Data Access Policy and Legislation - UK Statistics Authority

In October 2014, the UK Statistics Authority published its Better Statistics Better Decisions, a five-year strategy for the UK statistical service. New powers of access to, and insight from, the sources of data are needed for professional statisticians to produce the official statistics that decision-makers and citizens expect, to enable and empower them to take better, more timely and well-informed decisions about our constantly changing society and economy.

On 29 February 2016, the Government published a consultation paper, Better Use of Data in Government, including proposals for new legislation to improve ways in which we collect, produce and disseminate National and official statistics. Comments and views were sought from as wide a range of people as possible. The consultation outcome and feedback was published on 5 July 2016.

On 1 March 2016, the UK Statistics Authority’s Data Access Policy and Legislation programme produced Delivering better statistics for better decisions: Why we need new legislation for better access to data.