Dear Alan,
Thank you for your letter regarding National Records Scotland’s Healthy Life Expectancy statistics. As you explain, these statistics use data from the Annual Population Survey (APS), produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Due to decreasing APS sample sizes and resulting concerns about the quality of sub-national estimates, last year we agreed to a temporary suspension of accreditation for all ONS outputs using the APS data.
Based on the quality concerns you outline, I agree to your request to temporarily suspend the accreditation of National Records Scotland’s Healthy Life Expectancy statistics while ONS carries out methodological work to improve the quality of the estimates. I understand you plan to label the publication as Official Statistics in Development while this work is carried out. This approach will make the limitations of the statistics clear to users, supporting appropriate use, and ensures coherence of approach between estimates for Scotland and ONS’ estimates for the UK.
My Health and Social Care team will continue to engage with your team on this matter.
Yours sincerely
Ed Humpherson
Director General for OSR