Research and analysis

DSIT Official Statistics Work Update 2024/25

Published 14 May 2024

1. Introduction

This update sets out a high-level overview of plans for Official Statistics produced by the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) in 2024/25. 

This page does not include Official Statistics published by DSIT’s agencies and public bodies. The GOV.UK release calendar shows the planned publication dates of all statistical releases by DSIT and our agencies and public bodies.

For any general enquires related to our statistics, please contact statistics@dsit.gov.uk. Inboxes for specific releases are provided under the corresponding sections.

2. DSIT Official Statistics 

We will continue to produce Official Statistics in accordance with the guidance provided by the UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice for Statistics. Details on how we do this are set out as part of our DSIT standards for Official Statistics documents. 

The remainder of this section provides further information on plans associated with specific DSIT publications.

2.1 Bioscience and Health Technology Sector Statistics  

The Bioscience and health technology sector statistics (BaHTSS) is the Office for Life Science’s (OLS) annual publication on the size and composition of the life sciences sector in the UK. 

The method for data collection will be changing from 2024 onwards for the BaHTSS publication. This will involve using automation to collect information on companies from open sources to ensure better coverage and more timely data. We will provide further details on this change in data collection via the next iteration of the BaHTSS publication (expected to be published in late 2024 to early 2025) along with any implications for comparability to past publications.

In 2023, we carried out user research on the content of the BaHTSS statistics. A survey was available in the first half of 2023 for users to feedback views on what we currently publish and what additional content users would find helpful on the life sciences sector. We are considering the results of this user feedback and will further update on what content changes will be possible and the timelines for this. 

In 2024, we will be further reviewing the current sector classification and segmentation scheme used in the BaHTSS publication to describe company activity. We will be reaching out to users to collect views on the current scheme, including recommendations for any changes. 

If you are a user of these statistics and you have any general feedback about the publication, would like to be involved in the segmentation review, or have any questions about the change in methodology, please get in touch with analysis@officeforlifesciences.gov.uk.

2.2 Cyber Security Breaches Survey 

The Cyber Security Breaches Survey is an annual survey of UK cyber resilience. It is primarily used to inform government policy on cyber security, making the UK cyberspace a secure place to do business. The study explores the policies, processes, and approaches to cyber security for businesses, charities, and educational institutions. It also considers the different cyber attacks and cyber crimes these organisations face, as well as how these organisations are impacted and respond.  

Over the next year, we will be developing the survey to incorporate the principles of RAP (reproducible analytical pipelines). As part of this, we will be consulting with users about the current length of the report and data outputs.  

Any queries on the survey should be directed to cybersurveys@dsit.gov.uk  

2.3 Economic Estimates for the Digital Sector 

The Digital Sector Economic Estimates series provides statistics on the contribution of the digital sector to the UK economy, with releases published broadly around the following key metrics: 

• Gross Value Added (GVA) 
• Employment 
• Earnings 
• Imports and Exports of Services and Goods 
• Business Demographics 

This series was previously produced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) but has now transitioned across to fall under the responsibility of DSIT, who will continue the production of this series from April 2024. 

Previous releases of digital sector estimates published by DCMS can be found here: DCMS Economic Estimates

Over the next year, we will be reviewing and developing this series to ensure that it meets current user needs. As part of this, we will be consulting with users on their use of the statistics in the series and on which releases provide the most helpful information to them. 

If you would like to get in touch with us about these statistics, please contact economicestimates@dsit.gov.uk 

2.4 Digital Sector Skills Shortages and Skills Gap Statistics 

The Digital Sector Skills Shortages and Skills Gap Statistics are Official Statistics in Development that aim to provide an estimate of skills shortages and skills gaps in the digital sector. 

Previous statistics in this area have been published by DCMS and are available here: DCMS Sectors Skills Shortages and Skills Gaps: 2019. 

In 2024/25, we intend to identify the potential users of these statistic and will then consider producing an updated version using the most recently released data. 

2.5 UK Business Data Survey 

The UK Business Data Survey is a quantitative and qualitative study of UK businesses. 

It seeks to understand: 

• the role and importance of personal and non-personal data in UK businesses 
• domestic and international transfers of data 
• activities and opinions relating to data protection legislation and policy 

In 2024 we intend to publish results from the third iteration of the survey. 

We are also boosting the sample of businesses that transfer data internationally for the survey using a web scraping technique to identify the sample. Due to the difference in sampling method from the main survey, we plan to publish these results separately as Official Statistics in Development, exploring the impact of the different sampling method. 

For queries about UK Business Data Survey statistics, please contact ukbusinessdatasurvey@dsit.gov.uk

2.6 Ad hoc statistical releases 

Additional analyses not included in any of DSIT’s standard Official Statistics publications will be made available on the DSIT ad hoc statistical releases page. 

3. Machinery of Government changes 

Following the February 2023 machinery of government changes ownership of some publications was transferred from DCMS to DSIT. This transition has now largely been completed, with one main exception: 

• DCMS will retain digital questions in the Participation Survey, on behalf of DSIT, for the 2024/25 edition. The corresponding quarterly and annual statistics will also be published by DCMS. Digital sector questions will not be included as part of the 2025/26 DCMS survey as responsibility for publishing statistics on these will transfer to DSIT from April 2025.