UK Stats Authority Unveils Code of Practice

The UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) has published a new 'Code of Practice for Official Statistics', which it hopes will rebuild trust in official statistics.

The independent body was established last April to restore public faith in the quality and integrity of official statistics. Since its formation, it has already criticised the Government for seeking to interfere in the way immigration figures were released and for prematurely issuing knife crime statistics before they had been fully checked.

As of today's launch, statistics judged to be compliant with the code can carry the 'National Statistics label', to demonstrate that they have been produced and explained to high standards and that they serve the public good.

The authority is also publishing a further report which lists some 340 sets of official statistics not currently designated as National Statistics, which it believes should be brought within the scope of the code and assessed against it.

Chairman Sir Michael Scholar explained: 'Compliance with the code allows official figures to carry the National Statistics label. I believe the new code will help the many producers of UK official statistics to collect, explain, and release those statistics in ways that build public trust and confidence in the statistical system as a whole.'

The Authority's Head of Assessment, Richard Alldritt, is responsible for assessing whether official statistics are compiled, released, and presented in a way that is consistent with the code.

The code can be viewed here.

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