Government Social Research Publication Protocol (UK0085)

Commitment text: Welsh Government will continue to publish government research
according to the Government Social Research Publication Protocol, with reports pre-announced and
published on the ‘Statistics & Research’ pages of the Welsh Government website. Publication of
social research reports, according to the GSR publication protocol, is a key part of the Welsh
Government Principles for Research and Evaluation.
Objective: To publish research according to the Government Social Research publication
protocol.
Status quo: The Government Social Research publication protocol has been adopted to increase
the transparency of evidence used by the Welsh Government.
Ambition: Publication of research puts the evidence Government uses in its decisions in the
public domain and also provides research findings useful for other public and third sector bodies to
inform their own decision making.
Milestones:
1. Using the GSR publication protocol for all research publications
2. Ministerial commitment to use of Government Social Research publication protocol

5. Government Social Research Publication Protocol (Wales)

Commitment text:Welsh Government will continue to publish government research according to the Government Social Research Publication Protocol, with reports pre-announced and published on the ‘Statistics & Research' pages of the Welsh Government website. Publication of social research reports, according to the GSR publication protocol, is a key part of the Welsh Government Principles for Research and Evaluation.

Objective:To publish research according to the Government Social Research publication protocol.

Status quo:The Government Social Research publication protocol has been adopted to increase the transparency of evidence used by the Welsh Government.

Ambition:Publication of research puts the evidence Government uses in its decisions in the public domain and also provides research findings useful for other public and third sector bodies to inform their own decision making.

Milestones:

1. Using the GSR publication protocol for all research publications

2. Ministerial commitment to use of Government Social Research publication protocol

Responsible institution: Welsh Government

Supporting institution(s): N/A

Start date: N/A

End date: N/A

Commitment Aim:

This commitment was based upon a Welsh government ministerial commitment and the following of the Government Social Research Publication Protocol. This would help end inconsistency in how research is published and build greater public trust in what government publishes. This is a set of protocols for government that ‘sets out the five principles they should use in the publication and release of all government social research products, with practical advice about how they should be applied'.^{[Note 208: Civil Service and Government Social Research Profession, ‘Guidance: Government Social Research: Publication protocol', https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-social-research-publication-protocols ]} In summary, the five principles ask that research is published promptly in a way that promotes trust and is communicated clearly and with clear responsibility.^{[Note 209: Government Economic & Social Research Team, ‘Publishing research and analysis in government GSR Publication Protocol' (policy/protocol report 2015)]}

Status

Midterm: Substantial

The commitment was mostly completed before the third action plan cycle. However, if it is intended to be rolling then the Welsh Government website does specifically outline that ‘we will publish research according to the Government Social Research publication protocol' with an external link to the UK government's 2015 protocols' and milestone 1 is simply a continuous process.^{[Note 210: Welsh Government, ‘About Statistics & Research', http://gweddill.gov.wales/statistics-and-research/about/?lang=en]} According to the self-assessment, ‘Ministerial commitment' was then ‘reconfirmed following 2016 [Welsh] election'.^{[Note 211: Assessment made in Welsh Government (2017), UK Open Government, national action plan Welsh Government Mid-Term Self-Assessment Report (draft document accessed by author October 2017)]}

End of Term: Substantial

As this was a continuous process and simply re-affirmed and used continuously, the IRM viewed it as complete. In the self-assessment of December 2017 and final update of October 2018 it was listed as complete but ‘ongoing', with no breaches reported as occurring.^{[Note 212: Welsh Government (2018), Third UK Open Government, national action plan 2016 - 2018 Welsh Government End of Term Self-Assessment Report October 2018, https://www.opengovernment.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Office-of-the-Chief-Digital-Officer-NAP-3-Open-Government-National-Action-Plan-2016-2018-Final-Assessment.pdf: Welsh Government (2017), National Action Plan Welsh Government Mid-Term Self-Assessment Report.]}

Did It Open Government?

Access to Information: Did Not Change

According to the website, all government publications have been published according to the protocol. It is not clear that the commitment implied any new action or work and appeared to be mainly the continuation of an ongoing policy. There is no evidence that it has led to any greater access to information. It is not clear if the protocol has influenced any use or uptake.

Carried Forward?

This commitment has not been carried forward.