OSR is refreshing the Code of Practice for Statistics and you can get involved in helping to shape it.
The second edition of the Code was published in 2018. Since that time, the Code has been firmly embedded into the work of government analysts producing official statistics and by some analytical organisations outside of government, but there has also been a lot of change in the data landscape, an increased desire for statistics from users, and changes in the ways statistics are produced.
Following our review of the Code over the autumn and winter of 2023, OSR is now refreshing the Code to ensure that it continues to meet current and future needs.
Key goals
Everyone producing or using statistics can benefit from understanding and applying the core principles of the Code: Trustworthiness, Quality and Value (TQV).
In refreshing the Code our aim is to ensure the universality and content of the Code is clear to a wide range of audiences – producers of official statistics, other analysts within and beyond government, users of statistics and other stakeholders with an interest in statistics, as well as members of the public and OSR itself, as the statistics regulator.
As well as providing a clear explanation of the core framework underpinning the Code, our aim is to ensure our expectations of producers of official statistics and others working in organisations that produce official statistics are plain and actionable. This includes expectations from our Intelligent Transparency guidance, which covers communication of all statistics, data, and wider analysis in Government.
This aim will be delivered through providing clear standards for the production and use of official statistics and accessible guidance to support implementation of these standards.
Putting it into practice
We are considering ways to present the TQV standards for official statistics, as well as for other settings.
As part of this, we are looking at the online presentation of the Code and supporting guidance, aiming to design ways to deliver information targeted to areas of practice, alongside tools for specific audiences. This approach should give a clear steer on what it looks like to show the TQV standards, supported by good practice examples.
Stages of the refresh
Below we have set out seven steps that will take us to a new version of the Code. The stages overlap as we will continue to develop material for the new version of the Code during testing. Planned timings are set out below however these may be subject to change.
- Identifying the problem: the Code Review, Sep 2023 – Feb 2024
- Generating ideas: Mar – May 2024
- Development of options and test material: May – July 2024
- Testing: June – Sep 2024
- Public Code consultation and engagement: Oct 2024 – Jan 2025
- Review of consultation, preparation of findings paper, finalising Code: Jan – Mar 2025
- Publication of refreshed Code: Apr – May 2025
Please get in touch
As part of this work, we would love to speak to you. If you are interested in joining in testing or in being interviewed by our project team, please contact us.
We will be holding discussions and webinars during the period of the public consultation.