On behalf of the UK Data Forum, the Economic and Social Research Council is currently revising the UK Strategy for Data Resources for Social and Economic Research (the ‘National Data Strategy’). The first version of the strategy was published in 2007, followed by its revision in 2009, covering the period 2009-2012. The UK Data Forum has agreed that the next version, to be published in 2012, will have a five year horizon.

Given the rapid changes that are taking place, not just in terms of technologies for data capture, storage and analysis, but also in the legal environment, and with limitations on resources, it is now more important than ever that we should look ahead and plan to provide the best possible combination of data resources that will be required to address important research questions and inform the development of social and economic policies.

Written submissions from individuals and organisations were invited before 6 January 2012, to help inform the revision of the National Data Strategy.