Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 September 2025 · HC 847

Letter from Emma Rourke, Acting National Statistician on follow-up after oral evidence on the work of the UK Statistics Authority, dated 21.8.25

From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Inquiry: The work of the UK Statistics Authority

Summary

Emma Rourke, Acting National Statistician, provides supplementary written evidence to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee following July oral testimony. The letter details project documentation, governance structures, and costs for three major statistical initiatives: the Transformed Labour Force Survey (TLFS), the Planning & Portfolio Management function, and the Integrated Data Service (IDS). It clarifies leadership arrangements, stakeholder engagement approaches, and explains programme decisions including TLFS design iterations and IDS project restrictions.

Key findings

TLFS evolved from legacy projects over many years; original integrated design was abandoned due to lack of administrative data and pandemic impacts, leading to a longer survey than intended that required significant redesign in 2025 with a shortened 'Core' version launched 7 July 2025
Stakeholder engagement improved substantially in 2024 through new Labour Market Technical Group (HMT, Bank of England, OBR, DWP, DBT), independent Stakeholder Advisory Panel chaired by Professor Jonathan Portes, and monthly Household & Socioeconomic Technical Group
TLFS programme leadership has shifted multiple times; as of April 2025, Alex Lambert (Director of Social Surveys) is SRO; Pete Benton and Nigel Green operate a shared leadership model for IDS with distinct roles (strategy/stakeholder engagement vs. delivery/execution)
IDS total expenditure 2020/21–2024/25 was approximately £223.7 million, with annual spend ranging from £15.5m (2020/21) to £59.1m (2023/24); seven IDS project applications declined because they did not align to ONS priorities
Portfolio Management team provides assurance, governance, risk management, and business case support; Megan Cooper served as Deputy Director 2020–April 2025; role streamlined in May 2025 when Portfolio Investment Committee responsibilities absorbed into Executive Committee

Tone

Procedural

Topics

labour-statisticspublic-data-infrastructureprogramme-deliverygovernance-and-oversightgovernment-analysis

Key actors

Emma Rourke, Acting National Statistician, Simon Hoare MP, Chair of PACA Committee, Pete Benton, Director of Data Collection / IDS SRO, Nigel Green, IDS programme delivery lead, Alex Lambert, Director of Social Surveys / TLFS SRO, Professor Jonathan Portes, Chair of Stakeholder Advisory Panel, Megan Cooper, Deputy Director of Portfolio Management (2020–April 2025), James O'Brien, Deputy Director of Portfolio Management (from April 2025)

Notable line

“The original IPACS design was for a modular system with a combination of surveys and administrative data to meet the wide range of user requirements.”

Key Quotes

“Following evidence I gave to your Committee in July, and a subsequent request for supplementary evidence, please find additional information on the Transformed Labour Force Survey (TLFS), Planning & Portfolio management, and the Integrated Data Service (IDS) enclosed.”
— Emma Rourke, Acting National Statistician · Opening of correspondence to PACA Committee Chair

“The original IPACS design was for a modular system with a combination of surveys and administrative data to meet the wide range of user requirements. With the lack of available administrative data, organisational priorities in delivering Census and the impact of the pandemic, TLFS subsequently became the de facto solution for meeting all user needs rather than just the core labour market.”
— Office for National Statistics (TLFS lessons learnt review, December 2024) · Explaining why TLFS design diverged from original integrated approach

“In 2024, with an unacceptable level of missingness and drop-out on the survey evident in six months of testing, the UK Statistics Authority Board formally endorsed the development and testing of a significantly shorter TLFS labour market "Core" survey.”
— Office for National Statistics · Describing decision to redesign TLFS after quality issues

“Pete and Nigel's collaboration is best described as a shared leadership model, with Pete focusing on strategy and stakeholder engagement, and Nigel driving delivery and programme execution.”
— Office for National Statistics · Clarifying respective roles of Pete Benton (SRO) and Nigel Green (contractor) on IDS programme

“Linked data represents a highly valuable and underutilised asset to government. Secure access to safely linked data, as enabled by the IDS, creates new opportunities for highly impactful analysis, unlocking the insights needed to shape policy and lead to better outcomes for citizens.”
— Office for National Statistics · Emphasizing value of IDS before explaining restrictions on access

“Restricting access to the linked data / data linkage assets will limit the potential of this valuable government resource.”
— Office for National Statistics · Acknowledging negative consequences of limiting IDS to ONS priorities only

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗