Introduction

The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) is the independent regulatory arm of the UK Statistics Authority (referred to as the Authority). In this capacity, OSR is responsible for looking into concerns raised with the Authority regarding official statistics. The investigations we undertake are called casework. 

This report draws together the main findings from our casework from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 (referred to as 2024/25). It focuses on the issues and themes in the 219 pieces of casework we investigated during this time. The annual review of casework is aimed at anyone with an interest in the work of OSR or how official statistics are used. 

This report is supported by Annex A, “Casework management information”, which provides management information related to our casework. We have also included our underpinning assumptions and interpretation of the data. 

This report illustrates how, over the last 12 months, our casework function has enabled OSR to support government to use statistics appropriately, protect statistical independence, promote intelligent transparency and reinforce the quality of statistics, while also encouraging us to reflect on our remit and pursue improvements to our casework service.  

What is casework?

Our process 

Casework is generated when someone raises a concern with us, or when we identify a concern ourselves, regarding the production and use of statistics. 

During the investigation process, we first agree whether there is a concern or not. We also identify whether the concern is within our remit or out of scope. We engage with the individual, organisation or data producer to which the concern relates. Some casework-related correspondence will be published on our website (or the Authority website when a letter is sent by the Chair of the Authority), and some will be private, and so will only be logged in our issues log. Our frequently asked questions page provides more details on our decision making process for casework. 

If you have a concern that you believe falls under our remit, please do raise a concern here. 

Our remit 

We take a broad view of what counts as a “statistic”. We judge that it is unlikely that the public distinguishes statistics that are formally official statistics from those that are management information, economic models or some other type of government analysis. We recognise that the public is likely to expect that rigorous standards have been followed in how data are produced and used. We may therefore comment when numbers are used by government to support public communication regardless of whether these numbers come from published statistics, internal analysis, internal operational data or models. The same basic standards – the provision of context and sources, and access to an explanation of how the numbers are derived – apply. In short, the numbers should be verifiable, accessible and easy to understand. 

We will not generally comment on the use of statistics by the media – there are separate regulators of the press, broadcasting, advertising and political finance. We refer complainants to these regulators where relevant. However, where the media are quoting comments that use statistics, we may investigate and contact the person who was quoted if they are a statistics producer or member of government. 

Our regulatory role 

In accordance with the statutory requirements set out by the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007, we work to promote, monitor and safeguard the production and publication of official statistics. OSR is responsible for managing the Authority casework function. We undertake monitoring to identify and investigate issues raised with both OSR and the Authority. 

Our core aim is to uphold the principles of the Code of Practice for Statistics by ensuring that official statistics are produced and used in accordance with the Code pillars of Trustworthiness, Quality and Value. We ensure that the use of official statistics and data meets the following standards:  

• Official statistics and data should adhere to the principles of intelligent transparency. 

• Statistics used in public statements should be accessible and verifiable.  

• They should not be used misleadingly or without supporting data or context. 

Our intention with any intervention is to deliver positive change, whether that is an improvement in the production or communication of official statistics, or more responsible use of statistics in public debate. Our approach is always guided by our interventions policy.