Dear Siobhan 

Designation of Pay in the Northern Ireland Civil Service Statistics as National Statistics

Thank you for inviting us to assess the Pay in the Northern Ireland Civil Service Statistics against the Code of Practice for Statistics. We have today published our Assessment Report and judge that these statistics should be designated as National Statistics.  

We found that the statistics provide valuable insight into the distribution and equality of pay in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Where users have perceived there to be data gaps, the statistics team has been open and receptive to exploring the feasibility of producing these breakdowns. In particular, the statistics team showed enthusiasm and willingness to work with its counterparts across the UK to address the user need for comparable and coherent statistics for the UK. 

Users had no concerns about the quality and methods used to produce the statistics. We were pleased to see that during the course of this assessment, the statistics team made efficiency improvements to its production process to improve the timeliness of their output. As a result, the statistics for 2021 were produced three weeks earlier than in 2020.  

National Statistics status means that official statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and value and is something to be celebrated. We invite you to include a statement alongside the statistics which reflects this status. 

I would like to thank your team for its positive engagement throughout the assessment. I am copying this letter to Gayle Kennedy and Tony O’Brien, the responsible statisticians. 

Yours sincerely 

Ed Humpherson
Director General for Regulation

 

Related Links:

Assessment Report: Pay in the Northern Ireland Civil Service Statistics