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Transparency data

Surveys and Similar User Research Privacy Notice

Updated 8 May 2026

© Crown copyright 2026

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/surveys-and-similar-user-research-privacy-notice/surveys-and-similar-user-research-privacy-notice

This notice sets out how we will use your personal data, and your rights. It is made under Articles 13 and/or 14 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). 

YOUR DATA 

Purpose

The purpose(s) for which we are processing your personal data is(are): 

To carry out surveys, user research and associated analysis. The surveys/research will ask the opinions and perspectives of Cabinet Office staff, users of a service provided by the Cabinet Office, or individuals impacted by a policy area within the remit of the Cabinet Office. The purpose is to aid in understanding particular issues that could impact the Cabinet Office’s aims and objectives or is otherwise in the public interest. The outputs from the surveys and research will not be used to make decisions about individuals. The outputs will however be used to inform decision making and further actions more generally across the Cabinet Office or in specific business areas.
Fully anonymised outputs may be shared both internally or externally, including being published.

The data

We may process any of the following personal data: 

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Date of birth
  • Physical address
  • Employment details (start date or profession etc)
  • Location data
  • Salary
  • NI number
  • Job title or grade
  • Telephone number
  • Opinions and any other information provided in response to the survey questions

The legal basis for processing your personal data is: 

Where it is possible for consent to be freely given, the lawful basis will be consent.

Where freely given consent cannot be relied upon and the survey or research is external to Cabinet Office staff, the lawful basis will be the performance of a public task. In this case that is gathering views or feedback to improve services the Cabinet Office provides or policies within the remit of the Cabinet Office.

Where freely given consent cannot be relied upon and the survey or research is for Cabinet Office staff, the lawful basis will be that it is necessary for our legitimate interests or those of a third party, in this case that is obtaining feedback from staff to better understand and improve Cabinet Office activities and services.

Recipients

Your personal data may be shared data processors for running surveys such as SmartSurvey.

As your personal data will be stored on our IT infrastructure it will also be shared with our data processors who provide email, and document management and storage services. 

Retention 

Your personal data will be kept by us for less than 1 year in an identifiable format. However the statistical information and generated reports will be kept beyond this period. .

YOUR RIGHTS 

You have the right to request information about how your personal data are processed, and to request a copy of that personal data. 

You have the right to request that any inaccuracies in your personal data are rectified without delay. 

You have the right to request that any incomplete personal data are completed, including by means of a supplementary statement. 

You have the right to request that your personal data are erased if there is no longer a justification for them to be processed. 

You have the right in certain circumstances (for example, where accuracy is contested) to request that the processing of your personal data is restricted. 

You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data

INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS 

As your personal data is stored on our Corporate IT infrastructure, and shared with our data processors, it may be transferred and stored securely outside the UK. Where that is the case it will be subject to equivalent legal protection through an adequacy decision, reliance on Standard Contractual Clauses, or reliance on a UK International Data Transfer Agreement.

COMPLAINTS 

If you consider that your personal data has been misused or mishandled, you may make a complaint to the Information Commissioner, who is an independent regulator.  The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:  Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, or 0303 123 1113, or icocasework@ico.org.uk.  Any complaint to the Information Commissioner is without prejudice to your right to seek redress through the courts. 

CONTACT DETAILS 

The data controller for your personal data is the Cabinet Office. The contact details for the data controller are: Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2AS, or 0207 276 1234, or you can use this webform. 

The contact details for the data controller’s Data Protection Officer are: dpo@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. 

The Data Protection Officer provides independent advice and monitoring of Cabinet Office’s use of personal information.

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