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One part of an essential framework
Quality is one of the three core principles in the Code, alongside Trustworthiness and Value. It connects with these principles by focusing on whether statistics are suitable for their intended uses and whether users are given the evidence they need to use them well. It requires well-built systems, skilled staff and a culture that supports professional judgement. Producers also need to understand the contexts in which their statistics will be used.
This wider understanding of quality is not unique to the UK Code. It is reflected in international quality assurance frameworks, including the European Statistical System Quality Assurance Framework and the International Monetary Fund Data Quality Assessment Framework. It is also consistent with the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, which emphasise professional standards, transparency and public trust.
Taken together, this wider perspective reinforces a key message of this paper: quality is not only about producing robust statistics, but about enabling users to understand and use them appropriately.