Frameworks for the Access
and Use of Administrative
Data, With the Example of
Current Practice in the UK
Steven Vale
Office for National Statistics
UK
Contents
• Types of Framework
– Legal
– Policy
– Organisational
– Technical
• Current Practice in the UK
Legal Framework
• Legal frameworks are mainly at the
national level
• Most national statistical institutes
have legislation defining roles and
responsibilities, e.g. Statistics Act
• International legal frameworks, e.g.
for the European Union
Statistical Laws
• Existing statistical laws been revised
to include use of administrative data
• Many new statistical laws introduced
in the last 10 - 15 years
• Some national legal frameworks give
more powers than others for access
to administrative data
National Frameworks
• Historical, political and cultural factors
will have an impact on national
frameworks, therefore these are not
harmonised between countries
• International legal frameworks are
important for statistical harmonisation
Legal Acts on the Web
• Ireland - www.irishstatutebook.ie/ZZA21Y1993.html
– See sections 30 and 31
• Norway www.ssb.no/english/about_ssb/statlaw/statlov_en.html
– See chapter 3-2
• Germany www.destatis.de/download/ueber/bstag03_e.pdf
– See article 8
UK Legal Framework
• No specific Statistics Act
• Access to administrative data
controlled by source-specific acts
• Subject to European Union
legislation
• Independence legislation may
increase access
Policy Framework
• Government policy on data sharing
– How can the national statistical
institute influence this?
• Codes of practice
– International
– National
International Codes of Practice
• United Nations Fundamental
Principles of Official Statistics
– Principle 5: Data for statistical purposes
may be drawn from all types of sources,
be they statistical surveys or
administrative records. Statistical
agencies are to choose the source with
regard to quality, timeliness, costs and
the burden on respondents
International Codes of Practice
• European Statistical System Code of
Practice
– Principle 2: Statistical authorities must
have a clear legal mandate to collect
information for European statistical
purposes. Administrations, enterprises and
households, and the public at large may be
compelled by law to allow access to or
deliver data for European statistical
purposes at the request of statistical
authorities
National Codes of Practice
• Can reassure the public that data
will only be used for specific and
reasonable purposes
• Should be made available to the
public, e.g. via the internet site of
the national statistical institute.
UK Policy Framework
• Government policy favours more
data sharing
• Cross-government projects:
– Single business identifier
– Business Index
• Requirement to cut costs and the
burden on businesses
UK Policy Framework
• Codes of Practice
– UK supports international standards
– National Code of Practice
– Supported by protocols, e.g. Protocol on
Managing Respondent Load
• Statistical business register is the
gateway for all administrative microdata on businesses
Organisational Framework
• Agreement between supplier and
user of administrative data
– Contract
– Service Level Agreement
– Protocol
– Concordat
Agreement Contents
• Legal basis
• Names of persons transferring and
receiving data
• Detailed description of data covered
• Frequency of data supply
• Quality standards
• Confidentiality rules
Agreement Contents
•
•
•
•
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Technical standards
Provision of metadata
Provisions for payment for supply data
Period of agreement
Contingencies for changes in
circumstances
• Procedure for resolving disputes
UK Organisational Framework
• Service Level Agreements with other
government departments
• Statistical analyses / tools provided in
return
• Suppliers represented on business
register management committee
• Contracts with commercial data
suppliers
Technical Framework
• Mechanisms for data transfer
– Paper
– Magnetic media
– Secure connection
• Data / metadata standards
– XML
– SDMX
– GESMES
UK Technical Framework
• Mostly quarterly copies of
administrative registers on CD-ROM
• Government Secure Intranet link for
daily updates from Value Added Tax
• Flat text files
• Metadata as separate tables
Thank-you for listening.
Any Questions?
steve.vale@ons.gov.uk