Guidance

Revisions and corrections policy

Published 14 November 2022

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is responsible for protecting every member of every community from the impact of infectious diseases, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents and other health threats. We provide intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage, to make the nation’s health secure.

We publish a wide range of official statistics, management information, research and analysis and technical reports to inform decision-makers, policy-makers and the public about matters within our remit. Where that remit overlaps with other organisations, we work with them to ensure statistics are coherent, fit-for-purpose and are delivered for the public good.

1. Introduction

This policy is issued in accordance with the requirement set out in the UK Statistics Authority Code of Practice for Statistics to publish a revisions policy for official statistics outputs.

In this policy, “statistics” refers to those outputs published as official statistics, those assessed as National Statistics by the Office for Statistics Regulation and those voluntarily complying with the Code of Practice for Statistics. Publications which voluntarily comply with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics and are unable to comply with this policy in full will account for this in their statement of voluntary compliance.

This statement sets out the actions UKHSA will take in the event that revisions or corrections of previously published statistics are required.

2. Policy

2.1 Scheduled revisions

Scheduled revisions are planned amendments to published statistics in order to improve quality by either:

1. incorporating additional data that were unavailable at the point of initial publication, or
2. subjecting the publication to a “one-off” methodological change. This may happen when, for example, a data source or a methodology is improved and changes to historical numbers are significant enough that a revision of previously released tables is needed.

For scheduled revisions we will:

• Pre-announce revisions to data where these are expected and scheduled. Typically, the publication of revised data would be timed to coincide with the latest release of related new data.
• Summarise the key impact, nature, reason and extent of revisions.

2.2 Unscheduled corrections

Unscheduled corrections are amendments made to published statistics in response to the identification of errors following their initial publication.

For unscheduled corrections we will:

• Explain corrections to statistics at the earliest opportunity and in a way that provides most benefit to stakeholders.
• Issue corrections in an orderly way, for example with the next version of the amended statistic or, if appropriate, by way of an earlier release of data.
• Summarise the key impact, nature and extent of corrections.
• Confine all final decisions on corrections to the UKHSA Head of Profession for Statistics. The Head of Profession has discretion over how they respond to unscheduled corrections and it is for the Head of Profession to decide the most appropriate course of action in the circumstances, taking into account whether the corrections would be considered minor or major.

2.3 Substantial revisions

In exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to withdraw a publication while we make substantial revisions. The likelihood of substantial revisions is low due to the thorough quality assurance carried out prior to publication. However, in these circumstances we will:

• Remove the statistics publication from the department’s website.
• Replace the statistics publication with a statement giving a reason for the revision and a timetable for the replacement statistics.
• Pre-announce the replacement statistics.

Decisions on the content, format and timing of releases that incorporate substantial revisions will be made by the Head of Profession for Statistics.

3. Roles and responsibilities

This policy has been compiled by the UKHSA Head of Profession for Statistics. The Head of Profession is professionally accountable to the National Statistician for compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics and other professional standards. The Head of Profession reserves the right not to publish minor revisions if the resources required to issue them outweigh the benefits to stakeholders and, on balance, do not benefit the public good.

This policy applies to all staff with responsibility for the production and release of statistics in UKHSA.