Introduction
These pages provide further information, guidance and resources about the Statistics and Research strands of the Digital Economy Act 2017. Part 5 of the Digital Economy Act included important new legal powers to provide the UK Statistics Authority (and ONS as its executive office) with better access to data to support the production of official and National statistics, and statistical research; and to provide accredited researchers with better access to de-identified public sector data to support research projects for the public good.
Statistics
Chapter 7 of Part 5 of the Digital Economy Act amended the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 to provide the UK Statistics Authority (and ONS as its executive office) with greater and easier access to data held within the public and private sectors to support the statutory functions of the Statistics Authority in the production of official statistics and statistical research. Further information can be found in the statistics section.
Research
Chapter 5 of Part 5 of the Digital Economy Act facilitates the linking and sharing of de-identified data by public authorities for accredited research purposes to support valuable new research insights about UK society and the economy. The UK Statistics Authority is the statutory accrediting body responsible for the accreditation of processors (those who de-identify the data and provide secure access to the de-identified data), researchers and their projects. Further information can be found in the research section.