Uses of data

The purposes for which the CMI uses the information it collects are to:

• compare the actual mortality and morbidity experience with the expected experience based on one or more published tables
• construct tables of mortality and morbidity functions based on analysis of aggregated data primarily for use by members of the actuarial profession
• make estimates of future developments in mortality and morbidity rates
• carry out other statistical investigations and research that may be useful to actuaries with regard to the conduct of long term assurance, annuity and pension business, of sickness and related insurances and of self-administered pension schemes.

The CMI uses this data to produce:

• a summary of the data and the mortality / morbidity experience of that dataset. This is returned to the relevant data contributor and it is an integral part of CMI’s data validation, to ensure we have interpreted the data appropriately; and
•  an anonymised dataset, in which no individual can be identified, which is used with other relevant data for further research,

The CMI makes available the results of its research by a number of means:

• Subscribers and other Authorised Users receive an analysis of the aggregated experience of a number of data submissions, usually for a single year or for several years combined.
• The CMI also releases the results of some of these aggregated analyses and the results of other research to Subscribers and other Authorised Users in Working Papers and other documents

In certain circumstances the CMI may supply data to universities, and others, for non-commercial research

This will be done under a Research License  which sets out the obligations of the researcher(s) and the CMI

All requests for data for research should include the following:

• confirmation that the terms of the Research Licence will be met
• information about what data is required
• a summary of the purpose of the data request and the intended output.

Data will only be released for research purposes where the CMI Management Committee agrees that the proposed research may provide a worthwhile addition to actuarial knowledge. The CMI reserves the right to levy a charge for the handling of such data requests.

Any data provided for research will have been de-personalised in such form that they can no longer be considered personal data or sensitive personal data within the context of the data protection legislation. In addition, any data provided will normally be aggregated so as to preserve the confidentiality of information relating to individual life offices or pension schemes.

Occasionally the CMI may make available data that indicates, via anonymous codes, the data from individual life offices or pension schemes. Such research will only normally be undertaken at the instigation of the relevant investigation committee and the Research License requires that:

•  published work based on the data will not include any figures that might allow an individual life office or pension scheme to be identified; and
• a draft copy of the report will be submitted to the CMI prior to publication for approval.