Dear Ed,
In February, I wrote to you to let you know that our internal review of the Census had been published. This included four recommendations focussed on learning for the future delivery of strategically important statistical exercises across the Scottish Statistical System.
I have appreciated your support for this work and the recognition of my commitment to assure that leadership and statistical decisions in Scotland are made with appropriate oversight and seniority.
I am therefore writing to set out more detail on how I intend to meet the recommendations and the progress that has been made to date. Focus over the first three months has been on recommendation one with actions also initiated on recommendations two and four, as described in the table below. Work on recommendation three will commence in the latter half of 2025 building on the actions delivered.
| Recommendation | Progress to date | Future plans |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Chief Statistician should consider activities including a task and finish group to define and identify the ‘Cross-cutting Statistical Components’ of the Scottish Statistical system and other projects. | A small task and finish group was set up in March 2025 with representation from across Scottish Government analytical areas. The group produced proposed criteria and an initial list of cross-cutting statistical components which it presented to me in April. | The criteria and list of components will be tested with senior statisticians and the Analytical Leadership Group, and the Scotstat Board will be kept informed. Once finalised the list of components will be published on our website and reviewed annually. We will share the list with OSR in a future update. |
| 2. The Chief Statistician should consider opportunities to enable planning and training for the wider statistical profession to be linked to the broader skills needed for the delivery of cross-cutting statistical components by different organisations across the Scottish statistical system. | A successful programme of leadership training is already being rolled out to B3 and C1 statisticians – ‘Fit for the Future’. I have tasked my team to explore options for similar development opportunities at C2 level and determining the skills needed at this grade. We have opened discussions with senior statisticians. | Discussions with senior statisticians will inform our leadership training offer. Further information will be provided in my next update. |
| 3. The Chief Statistician should consider what mechanisms are required to provide oversight and assurance of cross-cutting statistical components in a holistic way and escalation of key decisions that could impact an integrated statistical system. | Prior to this review, the Office of the Chief Statistician had already been restructured to centralise professional functions and support. This work will improve the function that OCS provides on assurance.to the Chief Statistician. Draft guidance on assurance of topical and cross-cutting statistical matters has been developed. | Now that a list of critical statistical components has been developed and statistical assurance guidance drafted, we will review it with senior statisticians and the Analytical Leadership Group, keeping the Scotstat Board informed. This will be a focus of our response to the review over the remainder of the current financial year. |
I expect these planned actions to support the modernisation of our statistics, build trust and improve the transparency in our statistical decisions and methods.
I am copying this letter to the Minister for Parliamentary Business who has responsibility for statistics within his portfolio, Alison Byrne Chief executive of the National Records of Scotland, Scott Heald of Public Health Scotland, and the co-chairs of the Scotstat Board.
Yours sincerely,
Alastair McAlpine
Chief Statistician