UK Statistics Assembly: Call for contributions

Overview

The UK Statistics Authority, in partnership with the Royal Statistical Society, invites statistics users, producers and regulators to the inaugural UK Statistics Assembly.   

The first Statistics Assembly seeks to bring together a diverse range of cross-sector views to advise on the UK’s statistical priorities and user needs. 

The formation of the Statistics Assembly is in response to a recommendation in the Independent Review of the UK Statistics Authority by Professor Denise Lievesley to help "determine the UK’s needs for statistics through a wide consultative process". 

Why your views matter

The Statistics Assembly will take the form of a one-day event in London and online. It will allow for wide-ranging discussions to capture user needs and identify strategic gaps and priorities.  

It's important that the UK Statistics Assembly discussions are informed by a range of user perspectives. Therefore, ahead of the event we invite you to share your:  

• suggestions for agenda discussion items and presenters  

• examples of statistical and data priorities, gaps, and public and user needs 

• ideas for other cross-cutting areas for the Assembly to consider, such as data sharing and technology 

Your ideas can help to shape the event agenda and thematic discussions. Your views will also be used to inform the development of the next UK Statistics Authority strategy. We welcome contributions whether you are able to attend the event or not.  

While the Statistics Assembly will be a focal point for discussion and prioritisation, it forms part of the UK Statistics Authority’s wider user engagement to understand needs and priorities across the statistical system. 

How to respond   

To contribute, please complete the online questionnaire at the bottom of this page. We welcome contributions from all users, producers and regulators of statistics, to understand your views on the statistical priorities and needs for the UK, including:  

• arm's length and public sector bodies 

• business and industry 

• charities and voluntary organisations  

• devolved administrations  

• international stakeholder organisations 

• local government 

• media representatives 

• members of the public 

• research and academia  

• UK government departments 

We estimate that the questionnaire will take approximately 15 minutes.

Register to attend the Statistics Assembly event  

The Statistics Assembly event will be held in London, with virtual participation also available.   

All users – from interested citizens to policymakers and expert users – are welcome to attend. You do not have to submit the call for contributions to attend. Please sign up on our event booking page. 

Following the Assembly event  

Insights from the Assembly will be drawn together in a published report, summarising the priorities and data gaps covered at the event and how system priorities could be influenced by these.

The report will inform delivery planning for the ONS and other official statistical producers in government departments and public bodies, as well as inform the Authority’s next five-year strategy. It may also identify fresh opportunities for non-official statistics to be used to complement official ones for the public good.

Useful references 

You may find the following reports useful as background reading. 

• The UK Statistics Authority’s Statistics for the Public Good - our five year strategy for the UK official statistics system which sets out our aims, priorities, mission and values (published June 2020)  

• Royal Statistical Society: Public Statistics – A vision for meeting society’s needs for statistics in an increasingly data-rich world, published 20 June 2024 

• Office for Statistics Regulation: State of the Statistical System 2024, published 17 July 2024 

Accessibility  

If you would prefer to submit your contribution in a different format or would like to discuss your feedback, please email assembly@statistics.gov.uk.