Public Confidence in Official Statistics: Privacy notice

In line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), there are certain things that we need to let you, a research participant, know about how your information will be processed. In this privacy notice, we explain the legal basis for data processing, who will have access to your personal data, how your data will be used, stored and deleted and who you can contact with a query or a complaint.

What is the legal basis for processing my data?

The UK Statistics Authority are the data controller for this project. This means that they are responsible for deciding the purpose and legal basis for processing data. For this project, the legal basis for processing data is “public task”.

You can contact the UK Statistics Authority with any questions about the research. Please email DPO@statistics.gov.uk or call 0845 601 3034. For more information please visit the ONS website.

The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is a data processor for this project. 

Who will have access to my personal data?

The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) are carrying out this study and will have access to the contact details you provide and the answers you give during the interview.  

Your personal details will be given to our printer (Simmons) and the answers you provide to the survey, as well as your personal details, will be given to a data scanning agency (if you take part using the paper questionnaire). Both organisations are on NatCen’s approved supplier list and compliant with all of NatCen’s information security policies as well as any data protection legislation.

How will my data be treated?

Any personal details will be kept confidential and held securely by the National Centre for Social Research. The information you provide will not be used for marketing purposes or any purposes beyond this project, and your details will not be passed on to the UK Statistics Authority or any other organisation. The only exception to this would be if you give consent for the UK Statistics Authority – or an organisation acting on their behalf – to contact you to take part in follow up research. NatCen would then pass on the contact details you provide to the Authority.

Findings from the study will be written up into a report for the Authority, which will be published, but no names or identifying information will be included in the report. Your personal details will be deleted once the project is complete (approximately April 2024). 

Who can I contact with a query or a complaint?

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

Data Protection Officer
Office for National Statistics
Segensworth Road
Titchfield
Fareham
Hampshire
PO15 5RR

DPO@statistics.gov.uk

Under GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office at www.ico.org.uk.