Dear colleague,
Launch of the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR)’s refreshed Code of Practice for Statistics
The Code of Practice for Statistics (the Code) is a central part of our statistical system. It helps to ensure that our statistics are not just numbers, but reliable tools for understanding the world, providing insight to inform understanding and shape action.
We are aiming to release the third edition, Code 3.0, via the UKSA Code website on 30 October. We plan to start publicly promoting the new edition from 3 November, and I will formally launch it on 4 November with a keynote presentation at the GSS conference.
We have refreshed the Code to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of its wide and evolving audience. This revision follows a public consultation conducted from October 2024 to February 2025, during which feedback was received from a broad range of stakeholders. Thank you for your input during the consultation and subsequent drafting stages, which has informed the third edition.
Evolving the Code: overview of the key changes
The Code is firmly embedded into the work of analysts producing official statistics. However, it is important that it remains relevant, reflecting the substantial changes in the data landscape over recent years. These include the growing demand for timely, high-quality statistics; developments in the ways that statistics are produced and disseminated; and the rapid growth of AI technology.
We see the key to addressing these challenges and developments as being a continued focus on Trustworthiness, Quality and Value (TQV) – the framework which remains central to the Code. Code 3.0 represents a refresh rather than a radical overhaul.
Edition 3.0 of the Code introduces some changes which mark an evolution in our expectations for data and statistics and better supports statistical practice. Updates include a revised structure and the introduction of new standards for both statistical production and the onward communication of statistics in the public domain. The new edition reflects its wide audience, with various parts to support different professions and individuals producing or communicating statistics:
- The Code Principles unpack TQV and help anyone using data and producing statistics to work in a way that allows others to have confidence in the commitment to delivering the best possible outputs.
- The Standards for Official Statistics set out the ten standards and related practices related to each Code principle that producers of official statistics must follow to ensure that official statistics serve the public good and support public confidence. These are the standards we will apply when assessing whether official statistics can be accredited.
- The Standards for the Public Use of Statistics, Data and Wider Analysis (or Standards for Public Use) describe the three standards and required practices that all public bodies should adhere to when using and communicating statistics, data and wider analysis in the public domain. These standards build on our established principles of intelligent transparency. They apply to the public use of statistics, data and wider analysis beyond the publication of official statistics and so are relevant to a wide range of professions in addition to statisticians, including analysts, communications and policy professionals, Special Advisers and Ministers.
While the new Code of Practice for Statistics reflects an evolution in standards and expectations, often based on evolving statistical practice, we want to make sure that you are fully aware of the changes. A summary of the key updates and changes is given in Annex A.
Regulating against the new Code
We will be regulating against Code 3.0 from its publication on 30 October. Therefore, we expect all producers of official statistics to be developing plans to ensure compliance.
However, we will be proportionate and pragmatic in our regulatory approach. We do not expect changes to be made to already published statistics, but we do expect future publications to be produced in line with Code 3.0. Requirements or recommendations that we have already published will remain unchanged.
All OSR’s future regulatory work will be carried out against Code 3.0. This means that after its release on 30 October, all accreditation decisions, assessments and compliance reviews will be based on the ten standards set out in the Standards for Official Statistics.
In line with our current approach to intelligent transparency, the primary way that OSR will regulate against the Standards for the Public Use of Statistics, Data and Wider Analysis will be through casework. These standards will not form a core part of assessments and compliance reviews of official statistics. However, regulators may briefly review how the official statistics in question are used in the public domain in line with the Standards for the Public Use of Statistics, Data and Wider Analysis to determine how an official statistics producer body supports general adherence to the Code.
More detail on our approach to regulating against the new Code is available in Annex B.
Materials available to support producers
As noted above, we are aiming to release the third edition via the Code website on 30 October. We will be testing the updates on the Code website on the morning of release to ensure it is fully functional. Feel free to get in touch with any queries or issues at regulation@statistics.gov.uk.
Alongside this letter, we have shared a slide pack that you can use to introduce the Code within your organisations. OSR is very happy to participate in your sessions. Please contact your OSR domain team to arrange a speaker.
Alongside Code 3.0, we will be publishing a wide range of promotional material for you to share with your colleagues. These are tailored to a range of audiences, including communicators, policymakers, ministers and analysts.
We are also holding four Code webinars. We invite anyone interested in the Code to attend. Places can be booked through Eventbrite:
- An introduction to Code 3.0 – Wed, 12 Nov 2025 at 12:00-13:00
- Introduction to Trustworthiness – Tue, 18 Nov 2025 at 14:00-15:00
- Introduction to Quality – Thu, 27 Nov 2025 at 14:00-15:00
- Introduction to Value – Wed, 3 Dec 2025 at 12:00-13:00
Thank you once again for all your feedback and time in helping us get to this point. If you have any questions for my team do contact them at regulation@statistics.gov.uk.
Yours sincerely
Ed Humpherson
Director General for OSR