The Office for National Statistics (ONS) - Privacy notice

Who will have access to my personal data?

For the purpose of data protection legislation, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are the data controllers. The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is the data processor for the research. This means that ONS are responsible for deciding both the purpose and legal basis for processing personal data from this research. 

NatCen will carefully manage your personal data. Under the UK GDPR, the lawful basis for processing your information is that we need it to perform a ‘public task’. This means that processing this data is necessary for carrying out a task in the public interest. All the information you provide will be held in strict confidence and held securely. 

NatCen will have access to the contact details of research participants, and the recordings, transcriptions and researcher notes created during the interviews and focus groups. All responses will be anonymised before being analysed. Your personal data will only be accessed by certain members of the NatCen and ONS research teams.

McGowan Transcriptions is the transcription service NatCen use to transcribe interview and focus group data. They will have access to interview and focus group recordings and transcriptions. McGowan Transcriptions is from our ‘Approved Supplier List’. This means it is vetted by NatCen, and signed contracts and agreements are already in place. These are refreshed every 12 months.

Why do NatCen have my personal data?

We understand that ONS contacted you during your participation in the Public Sector Management Practices Survey (PSMPS) and that you agreed to be contacted to take part in further research.

How will my data be used?

The data collected will be used for research purposes only. 

NatCen will write a report covering the main themes and issues that have been discussed in the interviews and focus groups. Verbatim quotes may be used, however NatCen will not name you in the report nor will it be possible to identify you from your interview or focus group data. NatCen will not share with ONS what you have personally discussed in an interview or focus group nor with any other organisation, unless what you tell us indicates that you or someone else may be at risk of harm. The report produced by NatCen may be published and the anonymised findings may be used in ONS publications (format TBC). However, it will not be possible to identify individual participants in any report.   

At no point will any staff at your workplace or at ONS be able to identify you from your participation in an interview or focus group. 

All data stored by NatCen will be deleted once the report has been published. This will be within 3 months from end of data collection period. 

Will I have access to the data I provide in the interview or focus group?  

  • You may request your interview data (what you said during the interview), which we can provide in an anonymised transcript 10 days after the session to allow the transcription to be ready. 
  • Before the data is analysed and participant information is amalgamated, you may request for your input to be removed. Upon your request, we will let you know whether this is possible (this will only be possible before 2nd September 2024). However, once the data has been analysed, made anonymous or the report has been published, we will not be able to change the anonymised findings by removing an individual’s information. 
  • You may request that your personal data (names, email address, contact information) be deleted or updated at any point. 

Who do I contact if I have a query, complaint or would like to opt out?

To contact the research team at NatCen, please email MPATI@natcen.ac.uk.

To contact ONS about this research, please email psmps@ons.gov.uk 

If you have any questions about how your data will be used, please contact the NatCen’s Data Protection Officer:

Data Protection Officer

NatCen Social Research, Kings House, 101-135 Kings Rd, Brentwood, CM14 4LX

Email: dpo@natcen.ac.uk 

Data Protection Officers are responsible for upholding your rights and making sure we process your information correctly.

Under GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office. 

Contact Information 

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

Helpline number: 0303 123 1113

Website: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/  

Live Chat: https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/contact-us-public/public-advice/#liveChat