UK release practices for official microdata

Abstract

This paper describes the principles and practices by which microdata collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is made available to researchers.

Access to detailed confidential microdata, often from official sources, is acknowledged to be one of the great unrealised opportunities constraining the development of much academic and policy research. Recent developments across the world have improved access for some countries considerably, but progress is still patchy. Some of this delay is due to fear of the new; concerns over risk; worries over cost or feasibility; or just simply how to choose between a myriad of different solutions.

This paper considers the development of access to confidential microdata using the UK as an example. The UK Office for National Statistics has developed a coherent framework for providing data: everything from internet access to secure labs can be considered within the same framework. The aim is to achieve a balance of cost, access and detail through a finite set of options, enabling both flexibility and economies of scale.

A central role is played by the ONS' remote access facility, a secure thin-client desktop. This paper considers the problems that arose during the development and operation of the facility, current concerns, and challenges it will face in the future.