Transparency and Open Data: GSS Response Iain Bell HoP MoJ

What will I cover today? GSS transparency Group –Stock take –Action plan –Support for departments Case studies Issues/ lessons learned

Main findings from stock take Nearly all official statistics can be found via the Government’s public face for the Transparency Agenda, the data.gov.uk website However GSS products are not easily identifiable as such and the use of tags is inconsistent The vast majority of official statistics are published as spreadsheets ( 2* or 3* format) Number of departments trialling or moving towards linked data Some concerns about whether departments have the skills to fully deliver on transparency

Proposed way forward as part of their statistical planning processes set out a timetable for when under-pinning datasets from our key statistical outputs will be released. All HoPs should compile their commitment as part of their business plan to creata a GSS overview all sensitive datasets for release will be accompanied by a Privacy Impact Assessment A central body (possibly ONS) should own the issue of the mosaic effect on de-anonymisation use GSS standard linked data formats where appropriate to ease re-use and release in linked data formats

Supporting the GSS using exemplars and case studies creating a community of experts in undertaking this work developing training for Government Statisticians –Strategic level –All GSS training (web-based) –Expert community a central repository through data.gov.uk of approved linked definitions across the GSS.

Implementing Open Data Examples: DWP: Tabulation tool Home Office and MoJ ONS: Consumer Prices Index DCLG: open data cabinet

Dissemination Production & Publication Privacy Protection Aggregate & Microdata SDMX Standard Web-based Analysis TRUST & EXPLORATION Ad hoc Analysis Data Integration Web Service Access Visualization Publication & Consumption Privacy & Security Aggregate Data Metadata Rich Interactive Visualization EXPERIENCE Guided Analysis User Stimulation Data Confidence Stat-XploreStat-Tab New Software two access routes for both casual and experienced user DWP Tabulation Tool

Choose any variable Build tables interactively, then download or save results Visualize Stat-Tab DWP Tabulation Tool

. More than 47 million visits / 450 million hits since launch Application Programming Interface (API) opened to more than 1000 developers. Visits to Police.uk are more than 10 times higher than previous crime mapper. Over 4300 individual pieces of feedback into the system. Home Office and MoJ

Caution (2)

MoJ - Re-offending For the first time released re-offending rates for every local authority prison by prison re-offending rates Probation Trust and Youth Offending Team re-offending rates for prisons - individual re-offending rates for Probation Trusts individual re-offending rates

Next up – sentencing data

Consumer Price Index what is the CPI? measures the changes in the level of prices for goods & services bought in the UK what data are collected? 180,000 price quotes for 700 items from 20,000 retailers & service providers in 150 locations user demand increasing interest in easier access to more detailed CPI data

Releasing CPI Data - Issues Risk of identification of retailers - the Mosaic Effect Legal and Policy Position Ongoing maintenance of data publication Capability of the publishing tool to handle large data files Data format User needs Guidance for users

CPI: Reactions from Users data received over 8,000 hits well received largely being used by more expert users improve forecasting models and granularity of inflation analysis

DCLG Localities management area profiling tool Provides evidence base for DCLG locality management team. Brings together DCLG and external datasets Queries external sources, over the web, in real-time E.g. NOMIS sources on unemployment, mid-year population estimates Developed using free, open tools

Common themes Know your users and engage them –Focus on the benefits Consider privacy –Disclosure control, code of practice, assurances to data providers Value of a phased approach - won’t necessarily get it right first time

Final thoughts Privacy and mosaic effects are real – but often a way forward Open and linked data can be tricky…but it works – and is vitally important for reputation of official statistics Real progress has and continues to be made right across the GSS Computer based training and GSS experts are available Don’t get left behind!