Guidance

Statement of compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics

Updated 15 October 2020

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-compliance-with-code-of-practice-for-official-statistics/statement-of-compliance-with-the-code-of-practice-for-statistics

Purpose

The Code of Practice for Statistics provides producers of official statistics with details of the practices that must be committed to when producing and releasing official statistics. Itensures that statistics published by government serve the public, and are trustworthy, valuable and of high quality.

Our compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics means that users can have confidence in the people that produce Home Office statistics; that our statistics are robust, reliable and accurate. Our statistics are regularly reviewed to ensure they support the needs of society for information.

This document sets out the Home Office’s commitment to comply with the three pillars of the Code of Practice for Statistics:

  • Trustworthiness
  • Quality
  • Value

Trustworthiness

Having confidence in the people and organisations that produce statistics and data.

It is important that our people, and the systems and processes used to produce statistics and data, are trustworthy. This means we need to be well led, well managed, open, impartial and skilled.

Honesty and integrity

The Home Office commit to using, collecting, accessing and sharing data ethically, and for the public good. We present data impartially, objectively and free from political and commercial influences.

Independent decision making and leadership

The Chief Statistician (and Head of Profession) for the Home Office has the capacity to call for new statistics to be published. For example, following the Grenfell disaster in 2017, the Chief Statistician decided to publish an ad hoc statistical release on fires in purpose built flats. The role of Chief Statistician is to ensure that the Code of Practice for Statistics is implemented across the Home Office and provide wider leadership to the statistical community, to developing statistical competence and promoting continual improvement in publications.

Orderly release

Home Office statistical publications are pre-announced and pre-release access and quality assurance arrangements are transparent. All releases are published at 09:30 on the day of publication and include contact details for the responsible statistician and unit producing them.

The Home Office regularly makes scheduled revisions as part of orderly release practices. These revisions will be clearly marked within the next publication. There may be occasions where it is necessary to make unscheduled revisions; these will be made according to the Home Office’s revisions policy.

Transparent processes and management

The Home Office is committed to providing a quality statistical service. We are clear and transparent about our priorities and objectives, and these are available on our website.

Professional capability

Home Office statistician and data scientist professionals are recruited using the Government Statistician Group competency framework. We train and develop our skills regularly to ensure we demonstrate sound judgement and professionalism, apply the principles of the Code of Practice for Statistics and act with integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Data governance

The Home Office follows statutory guidelines for the collection, sharing, linking, confidentiality and release of data and details are published alongside statistical releases. All personal data is held securely and in accordance with data protection legislation and GDPR requirements.

Details of the Home Office’s use of administrative sources are available online.

Quality

Using data and methods that produce assured statistics.

Suitable data sources

Our statistics are based on the most appropriate data to meet intended uses. The impact of any data limitations is assessed, minimised and explained within statistical releases or the accompanying user guides.

Statisticians establish and maintain close relationships with those involved in the data collection process, sharing with data providers clear statements of data requirements, explaining how and why the data are intended to be used.

We endeavour to ensure source data are consistent and comparable over time, across different levels of aggregation and over geographic areas where possible.

Any potential bias, uncertainty or limitation in the source data is identified and the full extent of any impact, and how these are minimised, is made transparent to users within our publications. The Home Office systematically and periodically reviews and evaluates limitations in data sources.

Sound methods

Methods and processes employed by Home Office statisticians are based on professional consensus of best practice methods and scientific principles and details are available alongside all published collections. Data are compiled using recognised standards and definitions which are explained clearly in the context of other available information in related subject areas. Any limitations of these methods are identified, along with steps to reduce and minimise these, with topic and method experts consulted where appropriate.

Users of Home Office statistics will be notified of any changes to methods. Discontinuities in a time series will be fully reasoned and explained, with a consistent time series and back series of data provided where possible.

Assured quality

Producers of statistics and data should explain clearly how they assure themselves that statistics and data are accurate, reliable, coherent and timely.

The Home Office employ sound quality assurance processes, to ensure data are of a quality that meets users’ needs, minimising the risk and impact of quality issues on data. Quality – including reliability, comparability and timeliness – are regularly reviewed and evaluated by the producers of statistics. The extent of any limitations is fully explained alongside all published collections.

Processes of quality assurance will themselves be evaluated and reviewed regularly. Details of our revisions policy are available online.

Value

Producing statistics that support society’s needs for information.

We aim to produce statistics and data that are useful, easy to access, relevant, and support understanding of important issues.

This includes improving existing statistics and creating new ones through discussion and collaboration with stakeholders, and being responsible and efficient in the collection, sharing and use of statistical information.

Relevance to users

We are committed to regularly reviewing our National Statistics outputs to ensure they are relevant to users and to identify ongoing opportunities for innovation and improvement. This is done through:

Consultations will be made available on GOV.UK and active user groups and others with a recognised interest in the topic will be notified. Details of past and current consultations are available on the statistical series’ page on GOV.UK.

Accessibility

Statistics, data and metadata produced by the Home Office are published in accessible formats. Historic data continue to be publicly available from the National Archive Research Development and Statistics web site.

Clarity and insight

The Home Office are committed to producing orderly, impartial, and objective statistics and adding insight – why we are seeing the figures we are seeing, and what this means – to inform the policy and public debate on the areas it covers. Statistics will be described clearly and interpreted using appropriate data visualisations. Each release will be disseminated through the relevant channels to encourage existing and potential users and stakeholders to engage with the statistics. An email address for the lead statistician is included in every release for enquiries or general comments.

Efficiency and proportionality

In collecting, processing & publishing our statistics, we endeavour to:

  • place the minimum burdens necessary on data providers
  • integrate our statistical work across government
  • consider the costs to data suppliers in developing new data requirements
  • regularly review existing data requirements to ensure they are relevant
  • ensure that managers of administrative systems consider statistical needs in theirdesign and development

We take care of the information provided to us and respect the confidentiality of that information.

Further information and contact details

For more information about the application of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics within the Home Office please see:

Statement of Compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics

Statement of Compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics – Revisions and Corrections Policy

Statement of Compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics – Release practices

Please contact the responsible statistician named in each publication for details on specific administrative sources. Alternatively, the Chief Statistician for the Home Office can be contacted at:

2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Email: ChiefStatistician@HomeOffice.gov.uk

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