Exemptions are rare. They have mainly been agreed where it is not possible to give contact information for the responsible statistician for security reasons, or to not release at 9.30am due to specific circumstances.
Should circumstances call for an exemption for a specific practice, Heads of Profession should raise the matter with the Director General for Regulation, Ed Humpherson. The Office for Statistics Regulation supports sensible changes to existing production practices and will quickly consider any requests for exemptions that are in the public interest.
T2.9 In rare circumstances, an organisation may not be able to implement a specific practice of the Code. In this situation, the Chief Statistician/Head of Profession for Statistics should request an exemption from that practice of the Code from the Director General for Regulation and publish details of the exemption.
Table of exemptions granted by the Director General for Regulation on behalf of the UK Statistics Authority
Exemptions
| Producer | Statistics | Exempted practice | Reason | Date granted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Probation Board for Northern Ireland | All the Probation Board for Northern Ireland’s statistical releases | Name and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statistics | Security | 24 September 2020 |
| Office of the Police Ombudsman NI | All Office of the Police Ombudsman Northern Ireland statistical releases | Name and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statistics | Security | 24 September 2020 |
| Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland | Public Prosecution Service (PPS) statistical releases | Name and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statistics | Security | |
| HM Treasury | Market sensitive data | 9:30 release time [changed to 7am] | Covid-19 | Temporary exemption from Code of Practice for HM Treasury market sensitive data |
| NISRA | Market sensitive data | 9:30 release time [changed to 7am] | Covid-19 | Temporary exemption from Code of Practice for NISRA market sensitive publications |
| Scottish Government | Market sensitive data | 9:30 release time [changed to 7am] | Covid-19 | Temporary exemption from Code of Practice for Scottish Government market sensitive publications |
| Welsh Government | Market sensitive data | 9:30 release time [changed to 7am] | Covid-19 | emporary exemption from Code of Practice for Welsh Government market sensitive publications |
| Office for National Statistics | Market sensitive statistics | 9:30 release time [changed to 7am] | Covid-19 response - ceasing secure briefings | 24 March 2020 |
| Northern Ireland Office | Terrorism legislation statistics | Name and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statistics | Security | 22 October 2018 |
| Welsh Government | Mid-year population estimates, Electoral roll statistics, National population projections | 9:30 release time | To carry out adequate quality assurance in time for a 12:30pm publication, three hours after access to data at the time of the ONS release at 9:30am | 22 March 2018 |
| Department for Education | Key stage 2 assessment results | 9:30 release time | Because of the compressed timescale, it is highly unlikely that DfE can release these results at 9.30am, but expects to publish them as soon as possible after 11am | 5 July 2016 |
| Office for National Statistics | National Accounts | To correct errors, and alert stakeholders, promptly | The complexity of compiling the UK National Accounts means that it is, on occasions, not in the user interest for ONS to spend time correcting data immediately | 21 March 2016 |
| Department for Business, Innovation and Skills | Export licenses | Name and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statistics | Security | 4 June 2015 |
| Home Office | Scientific Procedures on Living Animals | 9:30 release time | Statutory obligation to lay document before Parliament | 25 June 2015 |
| Department of Justice Northern Ireland | DJNI statistical reports | Name and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statistics | Security | 16 April 2014 |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Tuberculosis in Cattle | Name and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statistics | Security | 24 Sept ember 2012 |
| Ministry of Defence | MoD statistical reports | Name and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statistics | Security | 7 February 2012 |
| Department of Health and Social Care [then Department of Health] | Abortions | Name and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statistics | Security | 19 December 2011 |
| Department of Agriculture and Rural Development | NI weekly Agricultural Market Report | 9:30 release time | As a weekly release to issue as soon as it is available on Thursday afternoons, rather than wait until 9.30am the following day | 14 October 2011 |
| Office for National Statistics | RPI | Correct errors discovered in statistical reports, and alert stakeholders, promptly | Practical problems caused to users, particularly in relation to the use of the RPI for index-linking | 30 September 2011 |
| Office for National Statistics | RPI | The relevant statistical Head of Profession has the sole responsibility for deciding on statistical methods, standards and procedures, and on the content and timing of statistical releases | The Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 requires the Chancellor rather than ONS’s Head of Profession to approve fundamental changes to the coverage and basic calculation of the RPI in certain circumstances | 30 September 2011 |
| Police Service of Northern Ireland | PSNI statistical reports | Name and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statistics | Security | 16 August 2011 |
| Office for National Statistics - EXPIRED | ONS statistical reports | 9:30 release time | Initial introduction of new website – ONS couldn’t guarantee 9.30am release | 17 January 2011 |