National statistician Sir Ian Diamond on Covid-19, timely data and collaboration

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1 ) What is the most often misunderstood aspect of statistics?

What many people don’t understand is just how big a role the collection and analysis of data plays in their lives. The statistical community could do more to help people understand the sources by which we securely collect data. We work with anonymised data from a variety of sources, such as data people provide when applying for services.

Public trust is very important. I think the public are largely supportive of sharing their data when they are kept informed of how it is used, when robust safeguards are explained, and when it’s for the good of society.

2 ) Has understanding improved or worsened during Covid-19?

The pandemic has been transformational in bringing statistics to the public, and people are increasingly aware of some of the challenges in making comparisons using statistics. The media have been good at trying to communicate what the statistics are saying. There is always more to do in improving statistical literacy, but we have made a good start.

3 ) What role can data play in building a fairer society?

The pandemic has shown how areas of society face tougher conditions than others. In the UK, our data has revealed the greater risk of death faced by black, Asian and minority ethnic people, and the mediating influence of disadvantage.

This is a salutary reminder of how official statistics need to reflect the experiences of the whole population. That is a theme of the 2021 England and Wales Census, which will have questions on sexual orientation and gender identity for the first time. We’ve also established the Inclusive Data Taskforce to improve the UK’s data holdings.

Data gives us a window to see problems that are otherwise invisible. By pushing for better use of statistics that can be broken down by protected characteristics, we can provide a solid evidence base to help us understand what action is needed to correct these problems within society.

4 ) Will the demand for timely data continue?

Covid-19 has illustrated the direct connection between data, policy and society. We are accessing new types of data and working with government departments to offer insights like never before. The potential for new insights by combining live datasets held across the public sector and exploring more experimental sources of data is huge.

5 ) How important is collaboration?

It is key. As Covid-19 has continued to take its toll, we have worked with academia and government to find information quickly and to provide evidence to support decision-makers.

Assembled in days, our study with the Department of Health and Social Care, the University of Oxford, IQVIA and the National Biosample Centre shows how powerful collaboration can be.

6 ) Is the relationship between statistics and data science a comfortable one?

Data science has great potential, but it is only one part of the way in which we use data. None of us should be working in silos. We need to work with policy-makers to make sure our data and analysis are useful and fit for purpose, and to have a proper impact on policy.

7 ) The Covid-19 crisis has accelerated the use of administrative data. How will you build on this?

By joining up the administrative data being created by government and public bodies, we have an evolving picture of what is happening in society, leading to more informed policy decisions, more effective public services, and a reduction in collection costs and the burden on the public to provide survey data.

We are looking for new sources and working with other organisations to make the most of the rich data out there. New funding of £6.8m will help develop a government-wide initiative that will, for the first time, link and provide access to existing public data in an ethical, secure and controlled way.

This article was first published in the January 2021 issue of Impact.