ONS data-sharing dream ended with three rival platforms

"Analysis In 2020, the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS), which provides data vital to form public sector policy and allocate resources, launched a plan to integrate government data and provide "high quality analysis that reflects the diversity of economic and social experience in our country." Five years later, an independent review revealed that the budget of £240.8 million had been used - with approval from His Majesty's Treasury - to fund more general tech and data costs as the ONS struggled to get off legacy IT systems. In the spring spending review, the Treasury cut the rope."

"In its business plan for 2020-25 [PDF], the ONS promised its Integrated Data Platform Program - the name it used at the time - would support "the integration of Government data, [which] enables inclusive analysis on national issues and facilitates enhanced dissemination of data and analysis." "The platform will deliver a strategic, secure and user-friendly environment and with integrated and categorized micro-data made available for research, analysis and presentation to users and the public via controlled access routes," it promised. Last year, the ONS continued to promise that the Integrated Data Service (IDS) - which resulted from the program - was in its "BETA maturity phase." "The IDS will grow at pace over the remainder of the Program with a pipeline of additional and transformational capability, data, projects and users as well as improved and accredited data integration and cross-sector collaboration enabled through cloud technologies that will drive significant uptake,""

In 2020 the Office for National Statistics launched a programme to integrate government data and deliver high-quality, inclusive analysis. A five-year independent review found the £240.8m budget was spent, with Treasury approval, on general technology and data costs while the ONS struggled to leave legacy IT systems. Treasury cut funding during the spring spending review. The failed objectives produced three different data-sharing platforms. The fragmentation arrives as government faces major policy challenges across tax, health, housing, immigration, policing, planning and more. Ambitious AI plans will depend on reliable integrated data, which remains unrealized.

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