Data gaps
Our data gaps work focusses on areas where the government doesn't gather data at all - whether because of a deliberate choice not to know, or just because it doesn't think it's a policy priority.
Why data gaps matter
Data gaps tend not to get written about much, for the obvious reason that it's hard to report on numbers that don't exist.
But if we don't gather and report data, we can't spot where services are failing; we can't track performance over time; and fundamentally, we can't improve people's lives.
Our data gaps work
We research and report the social and political impacts of failure by government to collect and publish data at our Missing Numbers project.
We also support non-profit organisations that can’t get the data they need - from charities to campaigns. If that’s you, please get in touch.
Current projects
Criminal justice data gaps
These data gaps obscure genuine scrutiny of our justice system - we have been working to map and address them.
How to spot data gaps
We have developed a new method to spot data gaps: by analysing unanswered Parliamentary Questions.
Data gaps in property ownership
We need to know who owns UK land so we can tackle financial crime, collect business rates, and build houses.
Past projects
Health statistics
We looked at healthcare questions that are repeatedly asked by key statistics users, but cannot be answered by official statistics.
Ethnicity data
We audited the Government’s progress on 26 formally accepted recommendations regarding data related to race and ethnicity.
Modern slavery
The Home Office was reprimanded by the UK’s statistics watchdog after we raised concerns about data gaps in the modern slavery sector.
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