Third Sector Statistics User Panel, 14 May 2025: minutes
Minutes for the Third Sector Statistics User Panel meeting on 14 May 2025.
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In this page
Attendees
Claire Chick (CC), Cardiff Third Sector Council
Danielle Couturiaux (DC), Welsh Government
Mal Colley (MC), Tenovus Cancer Care
Bekki Demski-Millar (BDM), Welsh Government
Steph Howarth (SH), Welsh Government (Chair)
George Kamau (GK), Welsh Government
Sue Leake (SL), Welsh Government
Thomas Lavery (TL), The Wallich
Nerys Owens (NO), Welsh Government
Martin Parry (MP), Welsh Government
Presenters
Oliver Gomersall (OG), Office for National Statistics
Nia Jones (NJ), Welsh Government
Chris McGowan (CM), Welsh Government
Rich Murphy (RM), Welsh Government
Andy O'Rourke (AO), Welsh Government
Catherine Singleton (CS), Welsh Government
Stef Taylor (ST), Welsh Government
Minute takers
Dan Boon, Welsh Government
Ryan Jones, Welsh Government
Apologies
Andrea Cleaver (AC), Welsh Refugee Council
Calvin Lees (CL), Learning and Work Institute
AJ Perkins (AP), Wales Council for Voluntary Action
Maddy Young (MY), Tenovus Cancer Care
Introduction
The presentations will be published online after the meeting (following speakers’ permission).
There was no simultaneous translation for this meeting as it didn’t reach the quota of attendees with Welsh as their preferred language.
Item 1: Minutes and actions
There were no comments on the previous meeting’s minutes.
All actions from the previous meeting were complete.
The Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) team updated on development work for the replacement WIMD interactive analysis tool as part of their agenda item.
Item 2: Quarterly statistics newsletter and demography newsletter
StatsWales
Before summarising the updates from the newsletters, SH mentioned the developments with StatsWales 3. The current progress has mostly been focused on the publishing side of the service, but now the shift is being made to focus on consumer feedback. The team are inviting people to test the new StatsWales service. If you use StatsWales and would like to contribute, please fill in the following questionnaire: Cymraeg / English.
The new service is expected to be up and running in the summer, with a planned period of dual running with the current system to take place. Updates and news about StatsWales 3 will be provided through the Digital and Data blog.
Statistics Quarterly newsletter
See the published newsletter for more information.
SH gave a summary of the main points from the newsletter. Something that wasn’t in the newsletter but has been announced is that the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government has approved running a housing survey for Wales in the coming years.
Demography newsletter
SH gave a summary of the main points from the newsletter but noted that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) would cover some updates within their agenda item.
It was also noted that Professor Sir Ian Diamond has resigned from his post as National Statistician with immediate effect due to ongoing health issues. Emma Rourke, one of the deputy national statisticians, will take on the role as interim National Statistician in the meantime.
Item 3: Update on Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) 2025
Main points
NJ and AO presented some slides to update users on WIMD 2025. The slides contained an outline of the current progress being made and the potential changes being made from WIMD 2019. The WIMD team is currently in the data collection and planning process, where final decisions on the proposals for WIMD 2025 will be made.
ST and CS presented about improvements to outputs for WIMD 2025. Following updated accessibility guidance since WIMD 2019, the team is working to further improve the outputs for WIMD 2025. This is to provide greater accessibility and experience for WIMD users and involves a major change in publishing the main report in HTML format (rather than PDF). Attendee feedback was sought via Teams polls.
RM presented on changes to the WIMD interactive mapping tool. This included collecting feedback from attendees via additional Teams polls. Work will continue on this, with updates provided by the WIMD team.
Discussion
NJ added that WIMD 2025 will use the 2021 lower layer super output area (LSOA) boundaries and the most current small area population estimates (SAPE) available. There are no plans to update WIMD with any planned revisions of the SAPEs, but the WIMD team will undertake some impact analysis to understand the possible impact of planned revisions to the SAPEs.
MP asked if each indicator data represents a snapshot in time, or if it is the latest data available. NJ and AO responded that it is a combination and varies by indicator. Generally, it is the most recent data available, but some indicators average data across multiple years.
TL asked if the timelines for WIMD will allow the newly approved national housing survey to feed into it. SH responded that the housing survey will not likely take place until a couple years’ time, so it would not be for this iteration of WIMD. NJ added that the housing survey would provide benchmarks for some housing indicator data, so it could be used for the next iteration of WIMD after 2025.
Item 4: Update on future of population and migration statistics
OG presented some slides which covered the ONS plan for the future of population and migration statistics, long-term international migration, ONS’ publication schedule, and user feedback on international student migration. On Monday, the ONS will publish its quarterly update with more information about upcoming publications and plans. [Post meeting note: this information is now available on the ONS website.]
No comments or discussion.
Item 5: National Survey for Wales
CM presented some slides about the changes and development work on the National Survey. The National Survey is planned to relaunch in 2026 to 2027 with an online-first approach, alongside paper-based and telephone alternatives, to increase the response rate and sample sizes. The results from the 2022 to 2023 survey are still being analysed, with publication on arts, heritage, libraries and museums, and Welsh language being scheduled for June 2025. The first release for the 2024 to 2025 survey results is planned for July 2025, with topic-specific reports to follow. Publication of the 2026 to 2027 survey results are also planned to follow a similar format.
No comments or discussion.
Any other business
SH asked for feedback about the value of these meetings, as attendance has been falling in recent meetings. Action 1: Members to provide feedback on whether these meetings are still useful for them, or if there are alternative options we can consider
MC said they find the meetings useful, but they are aware of other colleagues who are pressed for time to attend.
CC mentioned they feedback from these meetings to relevant colleagues, so they do not need to attend separately.
TL mentioned they find these meetings useful but can provide some further written feedback.
The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 19 November.
Action points
[1] Members to provide feedback on whether these meetings are still useful for them, or if there are alternative options we can consider.