The single data list

The single data list is a catalogue of all the datasets that local government must submit to central government in a given year. The Secretary of State Eric Pickles committed that local authorities would not be obliged to provide any data which is not on the list without extra funding.

We published the list of all central departments' data requirements from local authorities in 2011-12 on 14 April 2011. We have now updated the list with all 2011-12 requirements from arm's length bodies, non-ministerial departments and other public bodies - you can download it below. Everything that local authorities are expected to provide to central government in 2011-12 is on the list. Councils will not have to provide anything that is not on the list unless extra funding is provided, as announced by the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 13 October 201 (see link, top right). This provides a single, comprehensive list of the data that central government needs from local authorities. You can download it below.

How have we used the comments you made on the draft list?

We were very grateful for all the comments we received on the draft list of requirements from other public bodies - these have allowed us to ensure that the list is comprehensive. Along with the comments received during the drafting process for the central government departments list, we will be using these as part of our work to challenge departments and other bodies to reduce what they collect still further across the course of 2011 and the future. You can download an anonymised catalogue of all the responses we received this time below.

What next?

We are committed to reducing the burden of data collection further and preventing future build up. We are currently developing proposals for a 'gateway' system for new collections with input from other government departments, other bodies, the Local Government Group and local authorities themselves. We'll be testing what works while developing next year's list this autumn, with burden reduction as our highest priority.

Queries

To contact the Single Data List team, please email contactus@communities.gsi.gov.uk mentioning 'single data list'. The 'burdens' email account is now closed.