UKGC Withholds Data on NHS Gambling Harm Survey
Regulator cites research exemption to block release of internal communications about the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey.
The UK Gambling Commission has refused an FOI request for its internal correspondence about a major NHS health survey that measures gambling harm. Citing an exemption for ongoing research, the regulator has blocked the release of information about its role on the survey's steering group until after the report is published in 2025.
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UKGC Blocks Release of Internal Discussions on Major Health Survey
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has withheld internal documents relating to a major national health survey that includes data on gambling behaviour and harm. In a response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request dated 10 December 2024, the regulator confirmed it holds the information but will not release it until after the survey is published in 2025.
The request asked for all UKGC memoranda, correspondence, and steering group reports from 2023 and 2024 concerning the NHS Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) 2022/23.
Context: A Crucial Source of Data
The APMS, also known as the National Study of Health and Wellbeing, is a comprehensive survey conducted every seven years to assess the mental health of adults in England. It is a vital source of data for understanding the prevalence of various conditions and their links to other factors, including gambling.
The Gambling Commission confirmed that its staff are members of the survey's steering group, which has guided the "design, development, implementation, and delivery" of the research. This gives the regulator a direct role in shaping how gambling is measured and analysed within this significant national study.
Details of the Refusal
The UKGC has refused to disclose the requested documents, citing section 22A(1) of the Freedom of Information Act, an exemption for information related to ongoing research programmes intended for publication.
The Commission argued that releasing its internal communications and reports before the final APMS report is published would be "likely to prejudice the programme of research and statistics." It stated that premature publication could lead to an "incomplete and confusing picture emerging."
In its public interest test, the UKGC acknowledged the legitimate public interest in the transparency and accountability of public bodies. However, it concluded that this was outweighed by the need to allow the NHS to complete its research without external scrutiny and to ensure the final publication is coherent.
The Commission's formal position is that "the balance of the public interest lies in maintaining the exemption."
Significance: Transparency vs. Research Integrity
This decision highlights a tension between the public's right to scrutinise a regulator's activities and the need to protect the integrity of a major research project. While the full APMS 2022/23 report and its data are scheduled for publication in 2025, the UKGC's refusal means its influence and internal discussions on the survey's development will remain shielded from public view until then.
For consumers and researchers, this delays any understanding of the regulator's role in shaping what is considered one of the most important data sources on gambling harm and mental health in England. The data from this survey will likely inform future government policy and regulatory approaches to consumer protection, making the process behind its creation a matter of significant public interest.