What is administrative data?
Administrative data is information created when people use public services, such as schools, the NHS, the courts or the benefits system. Government bodies collect this information as part of running these services.
These records are kept to help services operate day to day, understand how well they are working, and plan improvements. For example, schools record exam results, the NHS records hospital visits and appointments, and HMRC keeps records about tax and income. Administrative data also includes basic population records, such as births, deaths and marriages, electoral registers, and the census.
Across the UK, administrative data is a largely untapped, but information-rich, resource. Although most of this data was not originally collected for research purposes, it can be used safely and responsibly to improve our understanding of society - revealing patterns and inequalities, and helping policymakers and services identify where change is needed.
Why is better access to administrative data so important for research?
Access to de-identified administrative data allows researchers to build a more accurate and complete picture of life in the UK than would otherwise be possible. Unlike surveys, which rely on people choosing to take part and can miss certain groups, administrative data includes information about everyone who comes into contact with public services.
The greatest value comes when information from different services is brought together. Combining data held by different government departments makes it possible to understand how different parts of people’s lives connect; for example, how education, health, and employment interact over time. This approach is the essence of ADR UK’s work and helps identify where changes to policy or services could improve lives.
Using administrative data can also reduce the need for costly and time-consuming data collection. Because this information already exists, researchers can focus their time and resources on analysis and impact, rather than starting from scratch.
What does the law say about using administrative data for research?
ADR UK uses clear legal gateways to allow approved and accredited researchers to access data for research and statistical purposes. One of the main laws that makes this possible is the Digital Economy Act 2017, Section 64: "Disclosure of information for research purposes".
Under this legislation, public authorities can share de-identified information for research, provided strict conditions are met. These include ensuring that no individual can be identified from the data and that the research serves a genuine public benefit. Further details are set out in our publication: The legal framework for accessing data.
Ethical and responsible data use sits at the core of ADR UK’s work. We take great care to protect the data we make available, and only support research that is in the public interest. You can read more about how we do this on our Ethics & Responsibility page.
