The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) today welcomed the commitment made by the Office for Local Government (Oflog) to apply Trustworthiness, Quality and Value (TQV) for its Local Authority Data Explorer.
The Oflog Local Authority Data Explorer allows users to compare key metrics relating to local government performance for authorities with similar responsibilities and attributes. It draws on the Nearest Neighbours Model developed by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
Alongside the release of the explorer, Oflog has made a commitment to upholding TQV. These three pillars support public confidence in data and statistics, and focus on:
- Trustworthiness: the organisation’s commitments to professionalism, sound governance and separation of statistics and data from policy
- Quality: appropriate data sources and methods, together with a commitment to quality assurance
- Value: clarity and insight as to what the data and statistics can, and cannot, be used for.
Whilst the data explorer is not designated as official statistics, Oflog has used the principles of TQV to underpin the data explorer’s production and release.
This commitment by Oflog sets the foundations for providing data and statistics that inform the public and policymakers, and enable users to answer their key questions.
Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation at OSR, said:
“OSR fully supports Oflog’s commitment to produce transparent, high-quality analytical outputs on local government activity. Oflog aims to inform both policymakers and, crucially, the public. The focus on providing insight to people outside Government is both welcome and essential to making a success of Oflog’s role.
I therefore welcome the release of Oflog’s new Local Authority Data Explorer and the publication of its supporting statement describing how it complies with the core principles of public confidence in data and statistics: trustworthiness, quality and value.”
Additional information
- Committing to TQV (linked to the Code of Practice for Statistics) on a voluntary basis can be done by any producer of data, statistics and analysis which are not official statistics, whether inside government or beyond, to help them produce analytical outputs that are high quality, useful for supporting decisions, and well respected.
- See Oflog’s statement of compliance for the Local Authority Data Explorer
- For more information on how to apply TQV please visit OSR’s Code website or email: regulation@statistics.gov.uk