Dear Katie

Thank you for sharing the outcome of DWP’s recent consultation on the frequency and ongoing value of its benefit statistics.

The open engagement with users, clear decisions and supporting rationale are welcome and consistent with Code expectations. The broad user engagement and acknowledgement of differing needs, particularly around timeliness, support confidence that decisions have been made openly. Continued engagement with key government stakeholders and operational teams is positive, as is the clear explanation of how data flows to other producers, including ONS, will be maintained.

We also recognise the balance that DWP is seeking. DWP’s consultation shows clear consideration of how its statistical portfolio can better meet user needs while improving coherence, sustainability and communication. The rationale for the proposed changes is clear, and the process demonstrates effort to understand different user perspectives.

There are some areas where greater clarity would help users. For example, some users, particularly analysts and local authorities, highlighted through their consultation responses the importance of higher-frequency data. DWP notes that these needs may be met through internal sources. Users may also need more clarity on the implications of reduced publication frequency for in-year analysis.

As DWP implements these changes, we encourage you to take the following actions to support continued compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics and maintain confidence among users:

• Continue engaging users whose needs may not be fully met by the revised approach.
• Be transparent about how consultation feedback and competing user needs have shaped decisions.
• Explain the implications of reduced publication frequency, including any quality considerations.
• Provide advance notice of publication changes, including revised formats, schedules and timelines.
• Keep decisions under review and set out how publication frequency will be reassessed if user needs change.

Next steps

My team will continue to engage with DWP as it takes forward these changes and considers how to maintain compliance with the Code.

Yours sincerely,

Ed Humpherson
Director General for OSR