Alternative release times requested under the Code of Practice for Statistics

Edition 2.1 of the Code of Practice for Statistics introduced alternative release times in May 2022. While the standard release time remains as 9.30am, the change enables producers of official statistics to request approval to publish at a time other than 9.30am if it better serves the public good.  

Applications are considered by the Director General for Regulation considering the evidence provided by the head of profession for statistics on user need, independence, transparency, and the orderliness of the release.  

Further information about alternative release times is given in our policy page. 

Practice T3.6 states: 

Statistics should be available to all users at the same time. The standard release time is 9.30am on a weekday. In circumstances when it better serves the public good for statistics to be released at an alternative time, the Director General for Regulation may approve the change. The time of release (whether the standard time or an alternative agreed with the Director General for Regulation) should be announced in advance and adhered to consistently.


Alternative release times considered by the Director General for Regulation on behalf of the UK Statistics Authority

 

Producer

Statistics

Decision (approved or rejected)

Date considered (yyyy/mm/dd)

Topic area(s)

Office for National Statistics Productivity Overview Statistics Approved 2024/02/15 Economy, Business and Trade
UK Health Security Agency National Flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports Approved 2023/10/04 Health and Social Care
Office for National Statistics Public Sector Classification Guide and Forward Work Plan [extended for energy bills support scheme] Approved 2023/03/30 Economy
Office for National Statitics Public Sector Classification Guide and Forward Work Plan Approved 2022/08/26 Economy
Office for National Statistics CPIH-consistent inflation rate estimates for UK household groups Approved 2022/08/24 Economy
Office for National Statistics UK Trust in Government Survey report Approved 2022/06/29 Population and Society
Welsh Government Welsh Government’s Census 2021 topic summaries for Wales Approved – now reverted to 9.30am release time 2022/10/14 Population and Society
Welsh Government Welsh Government’s Population and household estimates for Wales Approved 2022/06/22 Population and Society
National Records of Scotland Weekly deaths involving COVID-19 for week commencing 30 May 2022 Approved 2022/05/20 Population and Society
Office for National Statistics Census 2021 data in England and Wales Approved 2022/05/13 Population and Society
Scottish Government COVID-19 Infection Survey Results Approved 2022/05/05 Health and Social Care
HM Revenue and Customs Tax receipts and National Insurance contributions for the UK, Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information Approved 2022/04/26 Economy
HM Revenue and Customs VAT gap estimates Approved 2022/04/26 Economy
UK Health Security Agency Seasonal flu and COVID vaccine uptake statistics Approved 2022/04/08 Health and Social Care
Department of Health, Northern Ireland Vaccination status statistics Approved 2021/11/15 Health and Social Care
Office for National Statistics Coronavirus (COVID-19) weekly insights: Key health indicators in England Approved 2020/11/27 Health and Social Care
Welsh Government COVID-19 Infection Survey Results Approved 2020/09/29 Health and Social Care
Department of Health, Northern Ireland COVID-19 Infection Survey Results Approved 2020/09/29 Health and Social Care
Office for National Statistics Coronavirus (Covid-19) Infection Survey statistics Approved 2020/07/17 Health and Social Care
Department for Education Attendance at education and childcare setting during coronavirus outbreak Approved 2020/06/19 Children, Education and Skills
Department of Health, Northern Ireland Daily COVID-19 statistics dashboard Approved 2020/05/01 Health and Social Care
Public Health Scotland Weekly COVID-19 report Approved 2020/04/24 Health and Social Care
Welsh Government Key economic statistics Approved 2020/03/27 Economy
Scottish Government Labour market, public sector employment statistics - key economic stats Approved 2020/03/27 Economy
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency Market sensitive economic statistics - Labour Market Report (Monthly)
Quarterly Employment Survey
Approved 2020/03/27 Economy
Office for National Statistics Market sensitive economic statistics Approved 2020/03/24 Economy
Welsh Government Mid-year population estimates, Electoral roll statistics, National population projections Approved 2018/03/22 Population and Society
Department for Education Key stage 2 assessment results Approved 2016/07/05 Children, Education and Skills
Home Office Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Approved 2015/06/25 Crime and Security


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