Ian Jones (Welsh Gov) – Unable to attend, Scott Clifford attended on his behalf
Minutes
1. Welcome, Introduction and Declarations of Interest, Professor Evelyn Collins
The Chair opened the meeting, welcomed attendees and confirmed no new conflicts of interest.
The Minutes of the 31 March 2026 meeting were approved.
The Chair noted updates since the previous meeting, including ongoing work on harmonisation (sex and gender identity, and ethnicity), and advised that additional ad hoc meetings may be scheduled over the summer to support the work on ethnicity. She also advised that Darren Tierney was not available to join the meeting to discuss ONS priorities, and she would ask whether he might be available to join the next meeting.
2. UK Statistics Authority’s priorities following the Board’s public letter in October, Penny Young, UK Statistics Authority
Penny Young, Interim Chair of UKSA, provided an overview of the UK Statistics Authority Board’s current priorities and reflections on ONS performance and recovery.
She outlined that ONS has made clear progress over the past year following significant operational challenges, including improvements in survey response rates, staff engagement, and prioritisation of outputs. However, further work is required on core infrastructure, including legacy systems and capability.
The Board continues to provide support and challenge to ONS through its recovery, overseeing major programmes such as the Transformed Labour Force Survey and Census 2031, as well as putting in place interim governance arrangements while awaiting the appointment of a new National Statistician. This appointment was imminent, currently progressing through the final stages. The Board is also committed to moving forward on system-wide issues across the Government Statistical Service, such as progressing the recommendations of the Lievesley and Devereaux Reviews, the findings of the UK Statistics Assembly, and standards for harmonisation and coherence.
Penny Young noted the Committee’s concern that inclusivity may not have been fully considered in recent announcements about ONS priorities and suggested a review of priorities in the Autumn with involvement of the Permanent Secretary, the Board and the Committee.
During discussion, members emphasised that OSR might play a stronger role with the Board in developing an inclusivity strategy with ONS, and the wider GSS, though it was also noted that OSR omitted to include any specific reference to inclusivity in the revised Code of Practice. The fundamental role of inclusivity in addressing response rates was highlighted as well as the importance of respondent burden in the length of surveys. Issues relating to coherence and the importance of being able to produce UK-wide statistics as well as meeting user needs for revised harmonised standards were also discussed, including on ethnicity, sex and gender identity. Penny extended invitations to discuss with Wendy Sigle and Alice Sullivan the latter issues.
3. Census 2031 – Overview of Inclusion, Jon Wroth-Smith / Orlaith Fraser, ONS
ONS presented an overview of planning for the 2031 Census, noting that the programme is at an early design stage and that a mandatory questionnaire-based census has been recommended across the UK. Administrative data is expected to play an increasing role alongside survey data.
Reflecting on the 2021 Census, ONS highlighted the success in achieving high response rates, while noting variation across population groups. The importance of “inclusivity by design” was emphasised across the full census lifecycle, including engagement, data collection, and dissemination. One of the strategic goals in Census design is inclusivity, with the user-centred design approach previously used to be replicated in developing Census 2031.
The Committee discussed the need to better understand underrepresented groups and the barriers they face, including trust, communication, accessibility and motivational factors which may extend to the wider political environment, making people more or less willing to respond. Members also highlighted the importance of managing respondent burden and noted the potential role of administrative data in supporting participation.
ONS also outlined a new framework for identifying “key population groups” at risk of under-enumeration, using factors such as ability to contact, motivate and support participation. Members welcomed this approach and emphasised the importance of identifying where intersectional challenges may arise, testing assumptions, and recognising changing societal contexts. They also noted a lack of reference in the framing of Key Population Groups to the equality groups specified in the Equality Act (2010) or in Section 75 in Northern Ireland.
The Chair suggested that the Census team could feed into each NSIDAC meeting. This was welcomed by Jon, and he suggested that other UK Census teams may also benefit from this.
4. Trust in official statistics, Gail Rankin, Sofi Nickson, OSR
OSR presented on its work to support trust and trustworthiness in official statistics.
It was noted that trust is central to statistics serving the public good, and that OSR’s role focuses on promoting trustworthiness through standards, regulation, research and communication. Updates to the Code of Practice emphasise transparency, public engagement, and appropriate use of data.
Research findings highlight that trust in official statistics is influenced by factors such as trust and familiarity with data producers, clarity of communication including methods used, perceived quality, and trust in those communicating findings from statistics. Transparency in the wider ecosystem in which statistics are produced and communicated and the importance of individuals being able to see themselves reflected in data were also noted.
Committee members asked what research went into the revision of the Code of Practice and how its effectiveness is measured. They also expressed interest in how and why trust varies across intersectional groups and whether the OSR research could feed into the design of Census 2031.
5. Understanding and building public trust in statistics, Heather Jones, Jo Parry, ONS
ONS outlined its communications and engagement activity aimed at building public trust.
Independently commissioned research shows that while trust in ONS remains relatively strong overall, awareness of ONS is lower among younger people, ethnic minorities and lower socioeconomic groups, and this is associated with lower survey participation. There is a current focus on younger groups, especially those aged 16- 34.
This includes education programmes, partnerships, co-creation work with young people, and the use of social media and influencers to improve engagement. Work is also underway to develop a “Trust Centre” for the ONS website envisaged as a new digital platform improving accessibility and usability of ONS content.
The Committee highlighted the importance of early education in developing understanding of statistics and noted the need to consider trust in ONS compared to other organisations, and also trust in official statistics generally. It was agreed that further discussion on trust and trustworthiness would be valuable at a future meeting.
6. Statistics Canada’s Trust Centre, Kim Gault, Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada presented its approach to building trust, including the development of its Trust Centre.
It was noted that trust is a prerequisite for participation and therefore for inclusive data. Trust is supported through transparency, accountability, inclusion, engagement and demonstrating value to the public.
The Trust Centre provides accessible and user-focused information explaining how data are collected, used and protected. It also supports responses to emerging issues, including misinformation.
The Committee noted the importance of embedding trust across statistical systems and recognised the value of clear communication and proactive engagement in maintaining public confidence.
7. Data Democracy: An Approach to Inclusive Data, Lela Kogbara, Place Matters
Lela Kogbara presented an approach to “data democracy” used by Place Matters which focused on involving communities more directly in shaping, interpreting and using data.
The presentation highlighted the importance of understanding who defines, owns and interprets data, and emphasised the value of combining quantitative evidence with lived experience. Examples demonstrated how community engagement can reveal insights not captured through traditional analysis, particularly at local level.
The Committee reflected on the importance of participation, transparency and trust in achieving inclusive data, and noted the need to recognise both representation and agency within data systems.
8. Any Other Business, Professor Evelyn Collins
Chair proposed inviting Darren Tierney to the next meeting to discuss impacts on inclusive data by ONS prioritisation; and that the agenda should have a focus on disability, and also time to consider what the Committee has heard about trust and trustworthiness and what advice on trust the Committee should share across the statistical system.
Feedback was sought on the format of presentation briefing circulated to the Committee, which was generally positive, with any further comments to be forwarded to the Secretariat in the coming period.
Chair also advised she had been invited to attend the UKSA first Annual Public Lecture on 2 July, she was available to do so and would report back to the Committee.
