The Code of Practice for Statistics

Standards for Official Statistics

The Standards for Official Statistics describe the standards and practices required to ensure that statistics serve the public good. They should be applied by the teams and statistical leaders responsible for producing official statistics (‘producers’).

The Standards for Official Statistics are grounded in the core principles of the Code – Trustworthiness, Quality and Value – and directly relate to the ten Code Principles. Good practice guidance is provided for each standard .

Official statistics become accredited official statistics when they have been assessed and confirmed by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) to meet these standards. Accredited official statistics, called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007, are required under the Act to continually meet the standards of the Code.

Other producers beyond those producing official statistics can consider the standards and see how they can enhance their preparation and release of statistics into the public domain.

There are ten standards, as listed below. Each standard has a list of practices which set out the activities and behaviours required to meet the standard.

To ensure official statistics serve the public good:

Trustworthiness

1. Show integrity: Producers must act with integrity, working and communicating in honest, objective and professional ways, and challenging misuse

2. Lead responsibly: Producers must lead responsibly and make impartial decisions about statistics, under the direction and authority of the Chief Statistician/Head of Profession for Statistics

3. Be transparent: Producers must release statistics in a transparent way, at a standard time (usually 9.30am), and pre-announce the date and timing of the release

4. Manage data responsibly: Producers must manage data and statistics safely and securely and be open about how data will be used and protected

Quality

5. Prioritise quality: Producers must support a quality culture that promotes good practice and encourages learning and improvement, under the direction of the Chief Statistician/Head of Profession for Statistics

6. Be rigorous: Producers must use suitable data sources and sound methods, and assure the quality of the statistics across the production and release processes

7. Be open about quality: Producers must prominently explain the quality of the statistics, including strengths and limitations, and communicate the uncertainty in estimates

Value

8. Be relevant: Producers must put users at the centre of decision making about the statistics, listening and responding to feedback, and be transparent about statistical planning

9. Be clear: Producers must clearly present the statistics to support appropriate interpretation, collaborating with other producers and experts to develop fuller insight for key topics

10. Be accessible: Producers must ensure statistics are accessible and freely available to all

Related information

Understanding TQV: an introduction to the core principles of Trustworthiness, Quality and Value (TQV)

Code Principles: these principles explain how anyone working with data can put TQV into practice, in a wide range of settings

Standards for the Public Use of Statistics, Data and Wider Analysis: these standards set out what public bodies need to do to ensure an open, clear and accessible approach to the publication and communication of data, statistics and wider analysis

Code Guidance: information that supports use of the Code, including understanding and delivery of the principles and standards