Today, the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) has published its latest assessment report for the 2022 Census in Scotland. 

OSR has been impressed by the dedication of the statistical teams in National Records of Scotland (NRS). Over the past year in particular, NRS staff have worked hard to review and revise statistical methods to produce the best possible estimates of the population of Scotland.

NRS is currently working hard to finalise its methods and in the coming months will continue its data processing and undertake quality assurance arrangements. NRS still has a lot of work to do before it publishes the first outputs in autumn 2023. As part of OSR’s review we have identified the following areas for NRS to address, to best serve users’ needs.

These areas prioritise transparency and openness for census data users, including:

  • publishing information for users so they can understand the expected quality of data;
  • reviewing engagement plans to communicate confidence in data quality;
  • explaining the coherence and comparability of statistics on trans history and sex;
  • providing supporting information on data quality to users alongsidestatistical outputs; and
  • providing more-detailed information to users of UK census data in Scotland.

Ed Humpherson, DG Regulation said in recognising and reflecting on all the hard work on Census:

“NRS has been engaged and open with me and my team during the assessment. NRS has taken key steps to develop its use of data and methods to ensure the best possible estimates of the population of Scotland are produced. We will make a judgement on progress and National Statistics status timed to the first census outputs.”

Notes to Editors

  • The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) is the regulatory arm of the UK Statistics Authority.
  • OSR provides independent regulation of all official statistics produced in the UK assessed against the Code of Practice for Statistics. Statistics are an essential public asset. OSR ensures public confidence in the trustworthiness, quality and value of statistics produced by government.