Today, the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) published its Intelligent Transparency: 2025 review. As a response to the ever-growing challenge of misinformation and disinformation, intelligent transparency ensures that high-quality statistics and related information are easily accessible and communicated well.
This review provides OSR’s first systematic insight into how well intelligent transparency is embedded within governments across the UK. We found that there has been good progress, but there is still work to be done to ensure that intelligent transparency is the default approach. We make six recommendations to support improvements, including ministerial departments publishing public commitments to intelligent transparency.
This review comes at an opportune time as OSR celebrates the launch of the third edition of the Code of Practice for Statistics (the Code). A key change in this edition is the inclusion of intelligent transparency in the Standards for the Public Use of Statistics, Data and Wider Analysis. These standards set out OSR’s expectations for how statistics, data and wider analysis should be used in the public domain by public bodies.
Highlighted findings from this review
Increased awareness and understanding
We carried out a survey of Heads of Profession for Statistics and Chief Statisticians, and most respondents reported that the principles of intelligent transparency are embedded either well or very well among statisticians within their organisation.
Statistical leaders are strong champions of transparency
Heads of Profession for Statistics and Chief Statisticians were some of the strongest supporters for introducing intelligent transparency to the Code. They have been instrumental in developing and implementing guidance, providing training and embedding processes to support intelligent transparency within their organisations.
Close collaboration with government communications
OSR has worked closely with the Government Communication Service (GCS) to raise awareness and jointly develop training modules on communicating statistics as part of the GCS Advance training modules.
Lack of sources cited for statistics in government communications
In an analysis of all press releases published during the week beginning 14 July, only 17% named the source of their figures, and just under 10% provided a direct link to the source – a key requirement of intelligent transparency. We ask the GCS to include expectations about citing sources within its guidance for communication professionals.
Barriers to intelligent transparency
We found that lack of awareness among some professions, resource pressures for producing ad hoc releases of analysis, support for Heads of Profession for Statistics, and challenges in obtaining Number 10 ‘grid slots’ for publishing ad hoc releases can all hamper progress in embedding intelligent transparency.
Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation, commented:
“This review is a timely reminder that intelligent transparency is key to enhancing the trustworthiness of government communications. While there are positive signs of progress among the statistical community, in our review we that found few press releases named the source of the numbers they use. There is clearly more work to do. Everyone in government has an important role to play in embedding intelligent transparency as standard practice, so OSR is today sharing this report with senior leaders across UK and devolved governments.”
Notes to Editors
- In line with the principles of intelligent transparency, the analysis that we highlight in this news item and related social media posts can be found in our intelligent transparency report. It is important to note that our review of press releases is intended to be an illustrative exercise. The findings are explorative and do not constitute a formal OSR regulatory judgement.
- The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) provides independent regulation of all official statistics produced in the UK, and aim to enhance public confidence in the trustworthiness, quality and value of statistics produced by government.
- OSR regulate statistics by setting the standards official statistics must meet in the Code of Practice 3.0 for Statistics. We ensure that producers of official statistics uphold these standards by conducting assessments against the Code. Those which meet the standards are given Accredited Official Statistics status, indicating that they meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and value.
- We also report publicly on systemwide issues and on the way that statistics are being used, celebrating when the standards are upheld and challenging publicly when they are not. OSR is independent from government Ministers, and separate from producers of statistics, including the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
- OSR’s Director General, Ed Humpherson, reports directly to the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority Board. The Director General, and OSR, have wide discretion in highlighting good practice and reporting concerns with the production and use of statistics publicly. OSR’s work is overseen by the Board’s regulation committee (made up of non-executive directors, and with no statistical producer in attendance). OSR’s budget is proposed by the Board’s regulation committee and endorsed by the Board.