The Stiglitz Commission recommends national round-tables, with the involvement of stakeholders, to identify and prioritise indicators for a shared understanding of progress. The UK National Statistician has established an advisory forum, of over 40 stakeholders from across the country and from international organisations. This forum, and a technical group supporting it, is providing an important channel for exploring requirements, reviewing existing sources and preparing wider measures. However, it is the national debate on measuring national well-being, held from November 2010 to April 2011, that is designed to provide the greatest involvement and engagement. The debate has the strapline 'what matters to you?' in order to help shape the dimensions of national well-being. The debate was conducted through news media and significantly via social media and on-line forums. Events were also held around the country. In this talk we will review the national debate: what did we learn, both about measuring national well-being and about engaging with stakeholders and the public?

Keywords: Measuring progress; Round table; Stakeholders; Public engagement

Biography: Paul Allin is director of the ONS Measuring National Well-being Programme and head of the division that produces Social Trends, the UK Environment Accounts and other social analysis and reporting. The ONS programme for measuring UK national well-being announced by the Prime Minister and the National Statistician on 25th November 2010. Paul and his team have been researching the measurement of economic performance, quality of life, environmental impacts and sustainability since 2007.

Paul is a Chartered Statistician and has worked in a range of government departments and agencies, including as the chief statistician and head of social policy in the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Paul is actively involved in the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) and chairs the RSS South Wales group.