Independent report

Press notice: 'Unlock public sector data hoard to transform statistics,' says Charlie Bean

Updated 11 March 2016

All data collected and held by public sector bodies should be opened up to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to transform the production of economic statistics, according to a new report published today.

Professor Sir Charlie Bean is leading the independent review of UK economic statistics into how to future-proof ONS’s statistics so that they capture Britain’s fast-changing and modern economy. Today’s (2 December 2015) interim report sets out strategic recommendations, with a number of specific supporting actions, to help achieve his vision of cutting-edge economic statistics.

One of the key recommendations is for ONS to make the most of new data sources and the technologies for dealing with them. In the course of its day-to-day business the public sector collects vast amounts of data. While the government has made some progress in opening up this data, it is still not shared with ONS as fully as it could be. This detailed microdata could be used by ONS to bring it closer to the cutting edge in producing more insightful, timely and accurate economic statistics. Using government administrative data could help improve many economic statistics, including providing more accurate early estimates of GDP, improving regional statistics, and providing more insight into financial, trade and labour market flows.

The report recommends that new legislation is required to overcome existing barriers and help open up all publically-held microdata to ONS to improve their economic statistics, while ensuring appropriate ethical safeguards are in place and privacy is protected.

In order to fully exploit these new sources of data, including potentially also from the private sector, the report recommends ONS invest in technology and staff, including a cadre of data scientists. To ensure ONS moves ever closer to the cutting edge, the report recommends that it should constantly be on the lookout for new data sources and techniques, learning from businesses and statisticians everywhere.

Professor Sir Charlie Bean said:

It’s nonsensical that different bits of the government don’t speak to each other, so that businesses and households have to provide the same information twice. Unlocking the data hoard already held by the public sector will not only save businesses money but also produce more timely and accurate statistics.

A culture shift at the ONS is also key to producing economic statistics for a modern economy. It needs to become an organisation which is more intellectually curious, open and self-critical, as well as better at engaging with its customers

The report goes on to cite the need for a cultural change at ONS so that it becomes a smart producer of statistics more attune to the requirements of its customers, supported by increased economic expertise. To support this, staff should be encouraged to engage with statistics users and take time to interrogate data fully before publishing. This is likely to also help reduce the frequency of errors. As part of this ONS should increase its London presence in order to facilitate stronger engagement with key customers, as well as expanding its engagement with users across the rest of the UK. However, the review is clear that the home of economic statistics should remain and be strengthened in Newport and contribute to the ongoing development of South Wales and South West England as a hub of data expertise.

The final report will also examine governance and will explore the most significant emerging statistical challenges in greater depth. This is likely to focus particularly on changes in the digital and knowledge economy and how they might be better captured by economic statistics. The review expects to refine and add to its recommendations ahead of the final report due to be published by Budget 2016.

Further information

Professor Sir Charlie Bean was commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister for the Cabinet Office at the 2015 Summer Budget to carry out an independent review of economic statistics. Professor Bean was supported by a small team consisting of staff seconded from HM Treasury, ONS and the Bank of England.

The full list of high-level recommendations made by the interim report are:

• refocus the culture of ONS towards better meeting user needs
• make the most of existing and new data sources and the technologies for dealing with them
• become better at understanding and interrogating data
• address established statistical limitations
• become more agile in the provision of statistics that properly reflect the changing structure and characteristics of the economy

Media enquiries should be addressed to Nayeem Khan on 020 7270 1714 / 07824 869 040.