Siobhan Tuohy-Smith: Regulating statistics in the UK - the story so far and future plans
18 July 2016

Hi, I'm Siobhan and I work for the regulatory part of the UK Statistics Authority, which is responsible for regulating statistics in the UK. Like some of the people I meet, that sentence may generate more questions from you than it answers, such as: why do statistics need to be regulated, how do we regulate them, and which statistics do we regulate? This blog aims to answer these questions and highlight how you can check if the Government statistics you are using have been produced to the highest standards.

Which statistics do we regulate, and why?

Our understanding of the world around us and the decisions we make are informed by analysing and evaluating the increasing wealth of statistics and data on offer.

We in the regulatory part of the UK Statistics Authority are responsible for regulating all official statistics. Official statistics are those produced by central Government departments and agencies, the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and other Crown bodies. A small number of non-Crown bodies have also been designated as official statistics producers. The statistics these organisations produce help us to understand the world around us. They can be used to tell us how the economy is performing, help parents make an informed choice about which school they want their children to go to, and help businesses and researchers to understand what types of people live where.

By regulating official statistics we aim to support a wide range of users to have confidence in the trustworthiness, quality and value of these statistics.

How do we regulate statistics?

The Code of Practice for Official Statistics

To regulate these statistics, we set the standards, which producers of official statistics must meet. These standards are set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. The Code is made up of eight principles and three protocols:

• Principle 1: Meeting user needs.

• Principle 2: Impartiality and objectivity.

• Principle 3: Integrity.

• Principle 4: Sound methods and assured quality.

• Principle 5: Confidentiality.

• Principle 6: Proportionate burden.

• Principle 7:Resources.

• Principle 8: Frankness and accessibility.

• Protocol 1: User engagement.

• Protocol 2: Release practices.

• Protocol 3: The use of administrative sources for statistical purposes.

National Statistics

We monitor compliance against the standards set out in the Code by carrying out assessments of sets of statistics. As part of the assessment we analyse evidence provided by the statistical producer, as well as users and suppliers of the statistics. If the outcome of the assessment is that the statistics meet the standards of the Code, then they are allowed to display the National Statistics brand on the statistics. Therefore, where you see this brand you can have confidence that these statistics meet the standard for trustworthiness, quality and value. For example we assessed the 2011 Census in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and confirmed that these met the standards of the Code and could be called National Statistics. Therefore, the reports released analysing the census statistics display the National Statistics brand.

Responding to public queries and systemic statistical issues

As well as assessing sets of statistics against the Code and seeing if they should have the National Statistics brand, we also respond to public queries about the misuse of statistics in relation to the standards set out in the Code and more generally. The recent referendum kept us fairly busy on this front and you can see the outcomes of this work on our website. We also analyse and investigate systemic statistical issues. For example we recently undertook work looking at how statistical producers can better assure the quality of administrative data. With our increasing reliance on administrative data it is essential that we understand what level of quality assurance is required. As a result of this work we developed a standard for quality assuring administrative data which is helping to raise standards in this area.

Looking ahead?

Hopefully through this blog you have learnt a bit more about how statistics are regulated. You are also now hopefully a bit clearer on who the regulatory part of the UK Statistics Authority are and what we do.

Looking ahead, to ensure our standards remain relevant in an increasingly dynamic and exciting statistical world, we are looking to raise the profile and enhance the value of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics through a piece of work called 'the Code Stocktake'. We carried out our first phase of user engagement on the stocktake earlier in the year, and the team is now considering this feedback and will be producing some recommendations on how to enhance the Code. If these recommendations lead to a re-draft of the Code, we will then publically consult on the proposed changes.

Additionally, to ensure we continue to evolve with the statistical landscape and following recommendations from a recent review by Professor Sir Charles Bean, we are currently developing proposals on how we can enhance our role as the independent regulator of statistics. This work will be done alongside the ‘Code Stocktake’, and presents an exciting opportunity for us. Our ambition is to be an independent regulator that champions the power of statistics and supports public confidence in these statistics.

If you have any thoughts on how we can enhance our role as the independent regulator of statistics, or more general comments on regulating statistics, just get in touch.

Siobhan Tuohy-Smith is a statistical assessor in the regulatory part of the UK Statistics Authority. She has been an assessor on the Special Assessment of the 2011 Censuses in the UK: Phase 3 and Population estimates and projections produced by the Office for National Statistics. She has worked in the fields of research, statistics and regulatory policy for Government Departments, research organisations and in the private sector. She is committed to supporting the availability and use of evidence to inform decision-making.

Email: siobhan.tuohy-smith@statistics.gsi.gov.uk

Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the MRS Census and Geodemographic Group unless otherwise specifically stated.