Dear Ed,

Alternative Release Time for Public Sector Classification Guide and Forward Work Plan 

Thank you for your correspondence on 26 August 2022 in which you granted an alternative release time of 7:00am for the publication of the Public Sector Classification Guide and Forward Work Plan on 31 August 2022. I am writing to once again request an alternative to the 9:30am release time to publish at 7:00am on 31 October 2022. 

The alternative release time of 7:00am is necessary as on 31 October 2022 we will be publishing the outcome of our classification review of the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme in the UK, which may have an impact on data that could be market sensitive. 

The above publications will be released at the same time as a media statement which will include both the classification of the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme in the UK and also explain whether there is any affect on prices statistics.  

We therefore wish to publish outside of UK market hours, to ensure an orderly release with equal access to information, prior to the time the UK markets open. 

This request relates only to the October 2022 publications, and we expect future releases of the Public Sector Classification Guide and Forward Work Plan to adhere to the standard release time of 9:30am. 

I would be grateful for confirmation that you are content to grant this alternative release time. 

I am copying this request to Michael Keoghan, Deputy National Statistician & Director General for the Economic, Social and Environmental Statistics Group (ESEG) at ONS.

Yours sincerely, 

Rachel Skentelbery
Deputy Head of Profession for Statistics, ONS