OSR asked CEO of the Royal Statistical Society(RSS), Dr Sarah Cumbers, to reflect on the refreshed Code of Practice in a guest blog. The RSS works closely to support OSR’s regulatory work, including partnering with us on the TQV (Trustworthiness, Quality and Value) annual award for voluntary application, that celebrates organisations adopting these principles in their daily practice for everyone to see.
The Code is the essential foundation for our statistical system, underpinning the public trust society relies on by clearly communicating what matters when working with data, and driving up standards.
The RSS has been closely involved in the Code’s review process. We were pleased to host two dedicated roundtables with the OSR, one in November 2023 and another in late 2024, to give our members an opportunity to share their views and engage with OSR on how the Code could evolve.
It’s genuinely encouraging to see how many of the issues raised in those sessions are reflected in the revised Code, including the need for stronger user engagement. This direct line from member input to policy change shows the strength and influence of the statistical community when we speak together. We also submitted a formal response to the consultation, underlining our call for users to be placed at the heart of decision-making.
The Code is much more than a set of standards on paper; it’s a guide to best practice that supports better decision-making across the UK.
Independence is a central theme. In a period when the relationship between statisticians and politicians is under scrutiny globally, the Code’s emphasis on protecting impartial professional judgement is crucial. The integrity of official statistics depends on statisticians being able to work freely and professionally, and the Code provides a vital safeguard for us in the UK.
There’s always more work to do to ensure statistics fully serve the public good, and the RSS is particularly keen to see further progress on user engagement. The revised Code’s call to put users at the centre of the system provides a valuable catalyst for this, and we are looking forward to working with OSR, ONS and the wider government statistical service to discuss and agree exactly what that should mean in practice across the statistical system.
The Code matters because, above all, trust in statistics matters. The refreshed Code is a great step forward, and the RSS looks forward to supporting its use and continuing this conversation with both the OSR and our members.