Transparency data

DLUHC annual statement on compliance with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, 2022-23

Published 25 September 2023

1. This statement describes the steps and actions taken by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) during the period 2022-23 with the aim of meeting the principles of the Research Integrity Concordat (RIC) and embedding them in internal processes and guidance.

Introductory statement and summary of actions

2. DLUHC has an active programme of data and evidence gathering, analysis, research, and evaluation underway to underpin our key policy areas. During the reporting period for this statement, we have produced two key documents which provide transparent statements of our research priorities and our approach to evaluation.

3. In July 2022, we published a refreshed Areas of Research Interest (ARI) document, which set out our strong commitment to having robust evidence in place to enable the department to continue to deliver on its wide-ranging priorities. Our ARI sets out our key research interests as well as our processes for developing, commissioning, and publishing research.

4. In November 2022 we published our first evaluation strategy. It sets out our commitment to undertake and learn from evaluation activity across all our policy areas. It outlines evaluation activity that is already underway and future plans.

5. In January 2023, DLUHC introduced a new policy to publish a list of the department’s research projects commissioned in 2023, where the work is commissioned externally or where costs exceed £12,000 (unless a specific exemption applies).

6. Our analysts work within the professional standards and protocols set by the Analysis Function and professions. Particularly relevant are protocols for statistics, and Government Social Research (GSR) protocols for research, including ethics and publication.

Governance

7. Accountability for research integrity is shared by Richard Prager, the Chief Scientific Adviser; Stephen Aldridge, the Chief Analyst and Director of Analysis and Data Directorate; and Tom Smith the Chief Data Officer and Director of the Spatial Data Unit.

8. Any queries on matters of research integrity arrangements in DLUHC can be addressed to the Office of the Chief Scientific Advisor at DLUHC: PSChiefScientificAdviser@levellingup.gov.uk.

Policies and procedures to support a culture of research integrity

9. Overall, our assessment is that our processes are in line with the principles set out by the Concordat to Support Research Integrity when conducting and commissioning research and we are committed to the key principles in the Concordat.

10. The publication of the ARI in November 2022 has opened up an ongoing dialogue with a wide range of academics and other stakeholders. It is a transparent statement of our priorities and ways of working.

11. The evaluation strategy outlines how we prioritise and list our ongoing and planned evaluation work. Again, this is a transparent statement of our research activity, and makes our outputs more accessible.

12. We have maintained and enhanced a quarterly Monitoring and Evaluation Steering group, which includes internal analysts, policy makers, and external stakeholders. This group has a wide remit which includes helping to develop and drive high standards of policy and programme evaluation across all policy areas and major areas of spend. It ensures we are prioritising our resources when it comes to evaluation and provides a forum for sharing best practice in evaluation.

13. The Monitoring and Evaluation Steering group also ensures the department is engaged with efforts to drive improved evaluation efforts across Whitehall and learns from good practice in other government departments and beyond and ensures that the department learns and continuously improves its policies and interventions in the light of evaluation findings.

14. Significant new requests for research are approved by our internal Research Gateway Team and the lead minister. The DLUHC Research Gateway is a panel of experts, chaired by the Chief Analyst, which includes senior analysts from each of the analytical professions and representatives from the Chief Scientific Advisor’s office, commercial, digital, data protection, cyber security and central finance teams. The panel assesses proposals to ascertain whether they have necessary approvals, appropriately robust methodology and follow the relevant ethical procedures.

15. The Research Gateway panel ask for regular progress updates, feedback on interim findings and act as a further quality check on final reports. This has been strengthened during this reporting period.

Training and awareness raising

16. We have a strong culture of learning and development for all analysts in DLUHC, and we encourage staff to take up appropriate training, which can include professional skills development, training on different aspects of research conduct and ethics. We have provided material outlining learning opportunities for analysts on the DLUHC learning hub. We also offer a bursary scheme for Masters Training, and are engaged with various early careers schemes including apprenticeships and one year student placements. We’re also working with the Evaluation Task Force to roll out the Evaluation Academy training.

Open science and research protocols

17. Underpinning data for projects are, where possible, made available. The department has arrangements with ESRC Data Archive and ONS Integrated Data Service to archive anonymised data for research contracts where appropriate.

Publication of research

18. We adhere to the cross-government protocol that government research should be made publicly available, normally within 12 weeks from agreeing the final report.

19. To improve transparency, DLUHC introduced a new policy to publish a list of externally commissioned research and where the cost exceeds £12,000 unless a specific exemption applies. All new research commissioned from January 2023 onwards is listed.

Research misconduct

20. There were no cases of research misconduct in relation to research conducted or commissioned by DLUHC during financial year 2022-23.

21. Research misconduct within DLUHC would be investigated and handled through DLUHC’s disciplinary processes, whistleblowing guidance and the Civil Service Code as appropriate.