Statistics user groups on ONS across government

UK Statistics Authority did not have the information requested.

Dear UK Statistics Authority,

Sir David Norgrove (in the IfG event of 7 March) said that ONS has "several hundred user groups" and "8 or 9 that focus on major areas of statistics". Can you please list them, indicating which are the "8 or 9", providing links where possible. Please include any that might be defined as UKSA or GSS user groups.

Yours faithfully,

Simon Briscoe

FOI Team, UK Statistics Authority

Our Reference: FOI/2022/3999

 

Dear Simon,

 

Thank you for your email requesting data pertaining to ONS Horizon
scanning and UKSA GSS user groups.

 

I am writing to confirm that the Office for National Statistics has now
completed its search for the information which you requested and the
response can be found here:

You asked:

​FOI Reference: FOI/2022/3999

1) Dear UK Statistics Authority,

Sir David Norgrove (in the IfG event of 7 March) said that ONS has
"several hundred user groups" and "8 or 9 that focus on major areas of
statistics". Can you please list them, indicating which are the "8 or 9",
providing links where possible? Please include any that might be defined
as UKSA or GSS user groups.

2) Dear UK Statistics Authority,

Sir David Norgrove (in the IfG event of 7 March) essentially said that
horizon scanning was mainly done by talking, listening and thinking. Can
you please point me to the formal description of how horizon scanning is
done across the GSS and provide links to the reports from ONS, UKSA and
the rest of the GSS that list the resulting studies?

 

Our response:

​Thank you for your requests.

Request One:

Frequent interaction with the users of our statistics is a core part of
our work and ranges from discussions on single issues or surveys, to
broader topics and themes. This engagement takes many forms,
including: [1]Advisory Committees and Panels, steering groups, working
groups through to more ad-hoc sessions. We do not maintain a central list
of all of these interactions within the communication division. Therefore,
we do not hold the information requested.

With regards to the 8 or 9 groups that focus on major areas of statistics,
this may refer to the [2]Advisory Committees and Panels.

 

Request Two:

Horizon scanning is a routine item of business in any governance
structure, and any committee within the Authority, ONS and the GSS may
consider future trends as part of their work. Therefore, we do not hold a
single "formal description of how horizon scanning is done" as requested,
nor an exhaustive list of reports.

Horizon scanning for cross-cutting statistical work is in part provided by
the Analysis and Evaluation sub-committee of the National Statistics
Executive Group. This committee provides strategic direction to
cross-cutting analysis and undertakes horizon scanning to determine future
analytical needs. This work is facilitated by ONS, synthesising criteria
of urgency, potential impact, and existing evidence gaps with stakeholders
and is carried out in collaboration with wider-government statisticians,
then assured by the Analysis and Evaluation sub-committee which comprises
cross-Government and analytical profession membership. Horizon scanning is
undertaken on a regular basis and assured on a case-by-case basis with the
results informing ONS business planning and future analytical work. Such
an example is [3]The cost of living, current and upcoming work: March
2022 analytical statement published to promote transparency and seek
feedback from users. We are currently building up our portfolio of
published workplans. Alongside the Cost of Living Statement, we have also
published others on [4]Green jobs and on [5]COVID-19.

Please see our [6]Release calendar for updates on future publications.

 

 

 

You have the right to have this response to your Freedom of Information
request reviewed internally by an internal review process and, if you
remain unhappy with the decision, by the Information Commissioner. If you
would like to have the decision reviewed please email the Freedom of
Information Team at ‘[UK Statistics Authority request email]’ or write to The FoI Team, Office
for National Statistics, Segensworth Road, Titchfield PO15 5RR, and mark
your correspondence "Internal Review".

If you have any queries about this email, please contact the Freedom of
Information Team ('[UK Statistics Authority request email]').

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.

 

The Freedom of Information Team

Office for National Statistics

 

For information on Coronavirus, please visit [7]ONS.gov.uk/coronavirus

 

References

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1. https://uksa.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/...
2. https://uksa.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/...
3. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflation...
4. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environme...
5. https://www.ons.gov.uk/news/statementsan...
6. https://www.ons.gov.uk/releasecalendar?v...
7. http://ons.gov.uk/coronavirus

Dear FOI Team,

Thank you for your reply. Can we please keep the two information requests separate to avoid confusion?

You say: "We do not maintain a central list of all of these interactions within the communication division. Therefore, we do not hold the information requested."

I am not asking for a list of "interactions". Even if I was, the latter does not follow from the former so I consider this to be an inadequate response. Even if you don't have the list of user groups to hand, it is quite clear that the list exists: both Messrs Norgrove and Brace are aware of the number as they both use it in public. Can you please fully deal with my request and publish the list?

Yours sincerely,

Simon Briscoe

Dear FOI Team,

Hello. Could I please have an response to my email of the 18th? Thanks.

Yours sincerely,

Simon Briscoe

FOI Team, UK Statistics Authority

Dear Simon,

Thank you for your email.

We are investigating this request for you as an internal review. Please be assured that we are working on this and aim to have a response with you as soon as we are able.

Kind regards,
Lois
 
The Freedom of Information Team | UK Statistics Authority | Awdurdod Ystadegau’r Deyrnas Unedig
@UKStatsAuth | [email address] | http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk

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FOI Team, UK Statistics Authority

1 Attachment

Dear Simon,

Thank you for your email.

Please see attached our response to your internal review. Our apologies for the delay in our reply.

Kind regards,
 
The Freedom of Information Team | UK Statistics Authority | Awdurdod Ystadegau’r Deyrnas Unedig
@UKStatsAuth | [email address] | http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk

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