Big Data Matters 3 – The need for timely statistics

Online seminar - Thursday, 1 April 2021, 10:00-12:30 (CET)

The Centre for Big Data Statistics (the Netherlands) and the ONS Data Science Campus (UK)

2020 was a remarkable year: the world was facing a new pandemic and people’s daily lives were changed considerably. ‘Het nieuwe normaal’ (the new normal) has been coined as a new phrase within Dutch society and politics. But what does the ‘new normal’ look like in terms of health, economy, mobility and the labour market? And how can policy makers respond swiftly to these changes in society? National statistical institutes provide insights into the state of society by way of official statistics. Now, more than ever, there is a great need for more timely statistics.

Big data matters when timeliness is crucial

In recent years, Statistics Netherlands and the Office for National Statistics, together with universities and knowledge institutes, have invested in research and the production of timely statistics. Big data combined with survey and administrative data sources offer new possibilities for creating timely and accurate statistics.

The programme:

10:00 - 10:10 Introduction:

The New Normal @Statistics Netherlands by Sofie De Broe

10.10 - 11.00 Keynote speakers:

Dr Bert Kroese [Deputy Director General of Statistics Netherlands]: Innovation in the Time of Corona

Sir Ian Diamond [UK National Statistician]: The Changing Role of National Statistics Offices in a World of Big Data

5 min Break

11:05 - 12:05 Talks by Statistics Netherlands and Office for National Statistics

Marc Ponsen: Towards Timely Statistics in the Labour Market

Martijn Tennekes: Visualization of Mobility

Lenny Stoeldraijer: Mortality in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Q&A

Louisa Nolan: Developing Timely Statistics in the United Kingdom in Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak

Q&A

5 min Break

12:10 - 12:30 Panel Discussion

Tom Smith, managing director ONS Data Science Campus

Rob van Kan, director Data Services, Research & Innovation

The recording of the meeting