Changes to DfT statistics publications due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Updated 18 November 2020
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We are adapting DfT’s regular statistical production in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Wherever the coronavirus has an effect on the quality of our statistics, for example in the form of delays, lower accuracy or reductions in the level of breakdowns we are able to publish, this will be reflected in the data quality statement for each statistical release.
In some cases, the production of a data series may need to be suspended or delayed. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, guided by the 3 pillars of the Code of Practice for Statistics —Trustworthiness, Quality and Value. These decisions will be underpinned by the Office for Statistics Regulation’s guidance on changes to statistical outputs during the coronavirus outbreak. We remain committed to providing the best and most accurate information we can, and our priority will be to minimise the impact of any discontinuity on the longer-term evidence base. We will update this page with any future developments.
As the demand increases for statistics and data to measure the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, we will take into account the challenges and additional pressures our data suppliers are facing by focussing efforts on priority analysis and statistics.
Some of the data used in DfT statistical publications is part of the Single Data List, which covers all data returns that central government requires from local authorities. We are mindful of the additional pressures local authorities are facing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. We have, therefore, reviewed the priority of local authority statistical collections and considered whether collections should be minimised, deferred or cancelled to reduce the burden on authorities. This is detailed in the table below. We will keep these changes under review and consider whether a further delay or alternative plan is required.
Other considerations can contribute to delays to the original publication schedule. Priority work on the DfT’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in resourcing pressures leading to some publications being postponed. Other changes to the schedule might be caused by data collections issues, where data suppliers are unable to provide data or when data collection cannot feasibly take place. These are also indicated in the table below.
| Publication | Reason for change | Original publication date | Revised publication date | Part of the Single Data List | Contact for further information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van statistics: 2020 | Delay to field work due to impact of coronavirus pandemic | June 2020 | Provisional results were published on 10 September 2020. Final results to be published on 15 April 2021. | roadtraff.stats@dft.gov.uk | |
| Search and rescue helicopter bi-annual statistics: April to September 2020 | Priority work on DfT’s response to the coronavirus | December 2020 | Published in January 2021 | SARH.stats@dft.gov.uk | |
| Search and rescue helicopter annual statistics: year ending March 2020 | Priority work on DfT’s response to the coronavirus | June 2020 | Published in July 2020 | SARH.stats@dft.gov.uk | |
| Air passenger experience of security screening: 2019 | Priority work on DfT’s response to the coronavirus | June 2020 | Published in October 2020 | aviation.stats@dft.gov.uk | |
| Air passenger experience of security screening: 2020 | Data collection suspended in March 2020 due to coronavirus | June 2021 | Cancelled | aviation.stats@dft.gov.uk | |
| Air passenger experience of security screening: 2021 | Data collection suspended due to coronavirus | June 2022 | Cancelled | aviation.stats@dft.gov.uk | |
| National Travel Survey: 2019 | Delays to data access due to the coronavirus lockdown | July 2020 | Published in August 2020 | national.travelsurvey@dft.gov.uk | |
| Taxi and private hire vehicle statistics, England: 2020 | Local authority data collection delayed until September 2020 | August 2020 | Published in December 2020 | Y | taxi.statistics@dft.gov.uk |
| Local bus punctuality | Local authority data collection cancelled for 2020. The date for the Annual Bus Statistics publication (which this survey usually feeds into) remains unchanged in October 2020. | October 2020 | Cancelled | Y | bus.statistics@dft.gov.uk |
| Road conditions in England to March 2020 | No local authority data collection process run in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. 2019/20 data will be collected and published alongside 2020/21 data next year. | October 2020 | September 2021 | Y | roadmaintenance.stats@dft.gov.uk |
| Concessionary travel statistics: year ending March 2020 | Local authority survey cancelled for 2020 | October 2020 | Cancelled | Y | bus.statistics@dft.gov.uk |
| Reported road casualties in Great Britain, provisional estimates: year ending June 2020 | Postponed due to delays in receiving data from a large number police forces and Local Processing Authorities owing to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic | November 2020 | Published in January 2021 | Y | roadacc.stats@dft.gov.uk |