Research and analysis

DCMS Official Statistics Workplan 2021/22

Updated 21 March 2024

1. Introduction

This page outlines the high level priorities and plans for DCMS official statistics in 2021/22. These are based on our understanding of existing and rapidly emerging user needs. We always value feedback from users about our official statistics portfolio. You can contact the DCMS statistics team on evidence@dcms.gov.uk.

A number of DCMS’s Public Bodies also produce Official Statistics. This includes Arts Council England, British Film Institute, the Gambling Commission, Historic England, Ofcom, Sport England and Visit England. You can find a calendar of all official statistics planned by DCMS and our Public Bodies at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/

2. Our statistics

We are committed to continuing to provide robust, high quality and relevant official statistics during a time of new and fast-emerging analytical demands, guided by the principles in the Code of Practice for Statistics. The rest of the workplan sets out more detail about our planned portfolio of DCMS statistics for 2021/22.

2.1 Economic Estimates

Our Economic Estimates provide statistics on the contribution of DCMS sectors to the economy. These help us understand the number and size of businesses in the DCMS sectors, who is employed in relevant jobs and how much they earn, how DCMS sectors contribute to UK trade, and the Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy.

Over the last year, in addition to our traditional publications, we have developed some faster indicators. This includes developing a methodology for monthly GVA and trialling publishing quarterly (rather than annual) employment statistics.

In the coming year, we plan to publish the following Economic Estimates for DCMS sectors:

Gross Value Added (GVA)

• Annual GVA - our most robust estimate
• Monthly GVA - a faster, though less accurate, estimate which we will trial publishing quarterly
• Regional GVA

Trade

• Annual Trade in Goods
• Annual Trade in Services
• Annual Trade in Tourism

Employment and earnings

• Annual employment - an expanded earnings and employment publication based on annual population survey data
• Quarterly employment statistics - a faster ‘tables only’ release based on the same data source as the annual publication
• Annual ‘snapshot’ earnings release based on the annual survey of hours and earnings

Business demography

• Annual business demographics

Satellite Accounts

• Tourism Satellite Account - we will continue to work with the Office for National Statistics to ensure publication of estimates of employment and gross value added by the tourism sector

• Sport Satellite Account - we will explore options for robust measurement of the broader economic contribution of the Sport sector

We will also continue with the review of the definitions of our sectors and develop our dissemination methods. The latter may involve publication (separate to our usual release schedule) of new products to visualise already published data, such as dashboards or data tools, as well as development of existing releases.

2.2 Participation Surveys

The Taking Part Survey has been in place for many years as a flagship survey at DCMS, collecting data on how adults and children engage with our sectors. In 2020/21 (year 16), the cross-sectional element of this survey could not take place due to face-to-face interviews not being possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the last year, we used the Taking Part web panel to estimate cultural, digital and sporting engagement during some of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also published Taking Part data for 2019/20 (year 15).

Year 16 was the last year of fieldwork under the existing contract. DCMS launched a tender exercise and has now awarded a contract to run a social survey measuring engagement in DCMS sectors for adults in England for 2021/22 with an option of an extension of a further two individual years. You can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/taking-part-survey.

Further details about publication plans will be made available later in the year.

In the meantime, we continue to review the survey needs of DCMS and its stakeholders, taking into account the impact of the pandemic on our sectors, to inform the next steps of a DCMS survey strategy later this year.

2.3 DCMS-funded cultural institutions

We publish statistics about DCMS-funded cultural institutions. These help us understand how DCMS-funded cultural institutions generate their income, how sponsored museums and galleries are performing against their annual performance indicators, and how many visits there are to sponsored museums and galleries.

Over the last year, we have published some new, more rapid visitor figures to meet emerging requirements.

In the year ahead, we expect to publish:

• Monthly visitor figures for sponsored museums and galleries (published quarterly, when applicable). If necessary, we may issue additional publications covering visitor figure numbers at different timescales

• Annual performance indicators for sponsored museums and galleries

• Total income of DCMS-funded cultural institutions (including, but not limited to, sponsored museums and galleries)

2.4 Community Life Survey

The Community Life Survey is a key evidence source for understanding more about community engagement, volunteering, social cohesion, wellbeing and loneliness sampling adults (aged 16+) throughout England.

In 2020/21, in addition to publishing the annual Community Life Survey report, we published a ‘focus on’ report on loneliness and an additional recontact survey. Findings from the recontact survey cover public beliefs and behaviours related to social cohesion, charitable giving, volunteering, wellbeing and loneliness for adults (aged 16+) in England during March to July 2020, and how these have changed compared with a period before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the coming year, we expect to publish the annual Community Life Survey report for 2020/21 survey year as well as re-tender the contract for the Community Life Survey.

2.5 Cyber Security Breaches Survey

The Cyber Security Breaches Survey explores how UK businesses, charities, and education institutes approach cyber security and help them learn more about the cyber security issues faced by organisations. The research informs government policy on cyber security and how the government works with industry to make the UK one of the most secure places to do business online.

We published the 2021 Cyber Security Breaches Survey in March. We expect to publish a 2022 Survey next spring.

2.6 UK Business Data Survey

The UK Business Data Survey results are new official statistics for 2021/22. The survey helps us to understand more about how businesses collect and use data, views on data protection regulation, awareness and understanding of the role of the ICO, international data transfers and tools used to facilitate this.

We published headline figures in May, and will publish a more in-depth analysis in the Autumn.

2.7 Reported Treasure Finds

Statistics on Reported Treasure Finds present the number of finds of treasure and portable antiquities reported and recorded through the Portable Antiquities Scheme. We release an account because of the importance of treasure finds in understanding and interpreting history on a national and local level. The scheme is an intrinsic part of cultural protection, preserving important and significant finds for public access.

We published our annual report in February, and plan to publish next year’s statistics in the winter.

2.8 Supplementary tables

Over the last year, we have published a wide range of supplementary tables. We will continue to do this for transparency as users request particular cuts of data. If you require a breakdown of our statistics that we have not already published, please contact us on evidence@dcms.gov.uk.

In addition to feedback on our planned portfolio, we welcome views on this workplan page itself. We are considering options for producing these in future (including frequency and content), and value user feedback to inform these decisions. Please contact us on evidence@dcms.gov.uk.