Dear Stephanie,
Outcome from the consultation on proposed changes to Welsh Government statistical outputs
Thank you for your letter informing us that Welsh Government has published its response to the recent consultation on proposed changes to its statistical outputs.
We welcome the open and transparent approach Welsh Government has taken in consulting on these proposals and in setting out the decisions reached. It is positive that the consultation attracted responses from a wide range of users, and that the published response explains how this feedback has informed final decisions. This provides helpful transparency about the rationale for change and supports confidence that decisions have been taken in an open and considered way.
We also recognise the balance Welsh Government is seeking to make. Statistical producers are operating in a challenging context, with increasing demand for timely and relevant statistics alongside pressures on capacity and resources. Your approach reflects a constructive attempt to ensure that Welsh Government’s statistical outputs remain sustainable, accessible and responsive to user needs, while continuing to support public value and trust.
It is particularly encouraging that Welsh Government has listened to users and, in some cases, decided not to proceed with original proposals where the consultation identified compelling reasons not to do so. This demonstrates strong user engagement and a clear commitment to putting users at the centre of decisions about statistical planning.
As Welsh Government 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:
- Clearly signpost alternative sources of data, ensuring their accessibility to different user groups.
- Set out how you will continue to engage with users whose needs may not be fully met by the new publication model.
- Keep these decisions under active review, with a clear mechanism for reassessing frequency if user needs evolve.
- Provide advance notice of changes to publication schedules, alongside clear explanations of new formats and timelines.
These actions will help users understand what is changing, why decisions have been made, and how they can continue to access the information they need. They will also support transparency where trade-offs have been necessary and help ensure that the revised publication model remains responsive to user needs over time.
My team will continue to engage with you as these changes are implemented. I would be happy to discuss any aspect of this further.
Yours sincerely,
Ed Humpherson
Director General for OSR
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