Data in policy

Data management is at the heart of modern government. As public-interest technologists, we make practical interventions to try to ensure that new government policies and legislation, across a wide range of policy areas, contain 21st-century provisions on publishing and collecting data.

These can include:

  • provisions to collect and publish performance data, on how the policy is working

  • provisions to collect and publish operational data, which can create huge value for civil society and business

  • technical provisions about database implementation.

Although provisions on data are typically an afterthought during the policymaking process, they can be vital for success of the policy and for creating broader value.

Current projects

Trust transparency

We’re calling on the Government to treat trusts the same as it treats all other landowners.

Boiler data

We need better data on the UK’s gas boilers to help us achieve net zero and ensure landlords are keeping their tenants safe.

Short-term lets data

We’re calling for short-term letting platforms to be required to pass their lettings data onto authorities.

Past projects

Landlord register

We compiled recommendations for landlord registers that could better support landlords, local authorities and tenants.

Subsidy data

We campaigned for the Government to publish better data on subsidy spending - and we won.

Gambling data

We’re calling for the Gambling Commission to make better use of operator data in its efforts to regulate the sector.

 

Covid-19 data

We worked on a couple of interventions to improve data that was needed to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Agriculture Bill

We campaigned for better data measures in the Agriculture Bill to ensure MPs could obtain critical data on public money.

 

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