Inclusive Data Taskforce launches report on data inclusion

Last October, the National Statistician convened an independent Inclusive Data Taskforce, comprised of a diverse group of senior academics and civil society leaders. Chaired by Dame Moira Gibb, the Taskforce was challenged to develop a set of recommendations that would create a step-change in the inclusivity of the UK’s data and evidence base. 

The Office for National Statistics (ONS), in support of the Inclusive Data Taskforce, commissioned Basis Social to conduct a largescale piece of qualitative research involving over 80 civil society organisations working across 15 different equalities areas, and over 90 members of the public with experiences of equalities issues’.

As the Taskforce today publishes their recommendations, we are pleased to make our final report available to read and download. The ambition is for UK statistics to reflect the experiences of everyone in our society, so that everyone counts and no one is forgotten. For this ambition to become a reality it requires us to think more inclusively not just in terms of how data are collected but in terms of how the issues that we collect data around are framed and how we include marginalised communities in the whole research process.  

“Greater inclusivity is about providing people with greater understanding, ownership and control over not just their data, but what their data represents: their lives and circumstances.”

Our report contains findings with wide-ranging and bold implications for the future not just for UK statistics but how we undertake inclusive and authentic research more broadly. Thanks again to everyone who contributed to this research, and we look forward to being a part of the step change required in practice to ensure everyone counts in UK statistics and evidence.