ons.datasets.list
List and search all 337+ datasets published by the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) via the beta CMD API. Returns dataset IDs, titles, descriptions, last-updated timestamps, release frequencies, and national statistic flags. Use the keyword parameter to filter by topic (e.g. "gdp", "inflat...
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What ons.datasets.list does on Apibase
AI agents call ons.datasets.list to retrieve information from Apibase without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
limit | integer | — | Maximum number of datasets to return (1–50, default 20). |
offset | integer | — | Pagination offset — number of datasets to skip (default 0). |
keyword | string | — | Optional keyword to filter datasets by title, description, or tags (e.g. "gdp", "inflation", "population", "unemployment"). |
Parameters from the server's own tool schema.
Why ons.datasets.list is rated Low
Tool queries and returns metadata about public datasets with no side effects or data modification capabilities.
From the tool's definition List and search all 337+ datasets published by the UK Office for National Statistics
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs ons.datasets.list safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Apibase, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For ons.datasets.list, this is the rule to start with:
ons.datasets.list is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Apibase, apply this rule, and every ons.datasets.list call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about ons.datasets.list
List and search all 337+ datasets published by the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) via the beta CMD API. Returns dataset IDs, titles, descriptions, last-updated timestamps, release frequencies, and national statistic flags. Use the keyword parameter to filter by topic (e.g. "gdp", "inflation", "population", "unemployment", "earnings"). Use dataset IDs with the other ons.* tools or the ONS Cantabular API. Source: ONS CMD API v1, Open Government Licence v3.0. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Apibase MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
ons.datasets.list accepts 3 parameters: limit, offset, keyword. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.
Register the Apibase MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for ons.datasets.list: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Apibase. Nothing to install.
ons.datasets.list is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the ons.datasets.list rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for ons.datasets.list. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
ons.datasets.list is provided by the Apibase MCP server (apibase-mcp-client). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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