Official Statistics

Response to July 2020 consultation about stopping publication of the DMPS Official Statistics

Updated 22 July 2020

The Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme (DMPS) statistics are now (from November 2020) published with the DMPS annual review.

In June 2020, we conducted a public consultation on the DMPS official statistics publication.

Response

Respondents were invited to provide comments on the following proposed changes, to:

• cease the official statistics publication
• continue to publish this information in the DMPS annual review each November
• publish the data tables alongside the DMPS annual review

We received 3 responses to the consultation. Two from legal organisations working in this field and one from a support group representing people affected by mesothelioma.

All 3 responses highlighted the importance of the data in the statistical release for their work, in particular the value of having time series data to monitor trends. Each response also highlighted the broader value of the data in enabling transparency and scrutiny of the scheme.

All respondents accepted that the official statistics received a relatively low number of views, but countered that this was a specialised and niche area, and the statistics were of value to those affected and those working in this area.

On the impact of ceasing publication of the official statistics, all 3 respondents stressed the importance of publishing data in the same format in the DMPS annual review. One respondent expressed concerns about the quality of data if they were declassified as official statistics.

Separately, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) officials have discussed the proposals with members of the DMPS Oversight Committee – a committee set up to ensure that the DMPS receives sufficient scrutiny and to complement DWP’s monitoring of the Scheme. DWP provided assurance that:

• the publication of statistics will continue alongside the annual review in November
• DWP will continue to quality assure the content of the annual review prior to publication

Outcome

We are grateful to the organisations who responded to the consultation. Based on the low number and content of responses we have decided to cease the official statistics release.

However, we accept the points raised by the respondents, and agree that the same information, including the supporting data tables, should be published as part of the DMPS annual review. DWP is working in collaboration with the Scheme Administrator to produce this information alongside the annual review in a format that is informative, user friendly, and in line with the existing standard.

The DMPS annual review will continue to be reviewed and signed off by DWP, providing independent scrutiny of the Scheme Administrator data. This strikes a good balance in maintaining the value of the of data to users, and publishing this data in the most efficient way for the department.

Next publication

The next publication of the DMPS annual review will be in November 2020, and will cover relevant data for the period of 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2020 inclusive.

Feedback

DWP officials will continue their engagement with users of this data to ensure that the data published in the annual review publication is in line with user needs.

In the meantime we continue to welcome users’ views, so please provide any further feedback by email to: caxtonhouse.dmps@dwp.gov.uk.

Copy of original consultation

This statistical notice invites users to provide comments on the proposal to stop publishing the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme (DMPS) Official Statistics.

The information will continue to be published in the DMPS annual review, which is published in November each year.

Background

The purpose of the DMPS Official Statistics publication and supporting data tables is to provide information about the scheme.

They are currently released annually and are sourced from data collected by the Scheme Administrator appointed to act on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The publication contains information relating to the performance of the scheme, including applications received, success rates and payments.

Proposal

We are proposing to discontinue this release, on the basis that:

1. Metrics show that the publication has very low user views compared with other National and Official Statistics publications.
2. DWP resources can be put to better use on the development of higher priority statistics.
3. All of the data contained within the publication will remain available in the DMPS annual review publication.

In summary, the proposals are, to:

• cease the publication of the official statistics
• continue to publish this information in the DMPS annual review, each November
• publish the data tables alongside the DMPS annual review.

The information will continue to be published in the DMPS annual review, which is published in November each year.

How to reply

To help us to identify users, level of usage and alternative options please provide comments on these proposals, by 3 July 2020.

Please include an indication of the impact level (nil, minimal or high) and purpose that the publication is used for.

Questions

Q1. Please describe how and why you use these statistics. Please be as specific as possible; for example, if you use the statistics to provide briefing and further analysis to others, it would be helpful to know what the end use is.

Q2. As the information is provided in the DMPS annual review, if this publication ceased altogether, what impact would that have on you as an individual or on your organisation (if applicable)?

Q3. Is your response based on your own views as an individual user or on behalf of an organisation? If responding on behalf of an organisation, please provide the name of the organisation.

Q4. May we contact you to discuss your response? This may be to follow up on any specific points we need to clarify.

Q5. Are you content for us to publish your answers as part of our response document that will follow later this year?