ScotStat and User Engagement Sandy Stewart Senior Statistician Secretary – ScotStat Board

Contents What is ScotStat? What does ScotStat do? Who are the members? What are their interests? User Engagement – New Code of Practice

What is ScotStat?

ScotStat is the network for consulting data users, data providers and other stakeholders about official statistics in Scotland. – registered membership – active web site Board oversees and guides activity relating to ScotStat – meets twice a year – annual conference – ScotStat board support group Committees represent the range of statistics produced by the Scottish Government – different practices in different areas

ScotStat Committees SAC - Scottish Agriculture Committee SESCG – Scottish Economic Statistics Consultants Group SCJC – Scottish Crime and Justice Committee NESAC – Natural Environment Statistics Advisory Committee HCC – Health and Care Committee SWSLG – Social Work Statistics Liaison Committee SBEC – Scottish Built Environment Committee PAMS – Population And Migration Committee MDAG – Measuring Deprivation Advisory group DEECS - Data Exchange in Education and Children’s Services (defunct) STTC – ScotStat Transport and Travel Committee SNS – Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics Various sub/working groups Virtual groups

What does ScotStat do?

Achievements – small sample of activity Improving local indicators Analysis of health statistics – SPARRA and Swine Flu Improvements to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation Scottish National Accounts Project – consultation underway on data being developed/experimental statistics Reduction in number of data requests

Review of non-statutory quantitative data requirements

Who are the members?

Total Registered Members – 28/10/09 Total – 1,933 –of which: –460 – 24% - Local Government – % - Central Government – % - Higher/Further Education – % - NHS – % - Private Sector – % - Other Public Sector – % - Student – % - Voluntary Sector – % - Individuals (self empl & not working)

Membership changes – 1 Nov 2008 – 28 October Organisation diffdiff (%) Local Government % Central Government % Higher/Further Education % NHS % Private Sector % Other public sector % Student % Voluntary Sector % Individuals (self empl & not working) % Total 1,6761, %

What are Members’ interests?

Members’ Interests Demography % Economy & Labour Market % Health & Social Care % Children & Education % Population & HH surveys % Housing & Homelessness % Environment & Sus Dev % Crime & Justice % Local Government Finance % Agriculture, Fishing & Forestry %

New Code of Practice – Requirements for user consultation?

Code of Practice for Official Statistics – January 2009 User consultation at the heart of the Code of Practice 8 Principles –No 1 – Meeting User needs –Nos 2 – 8 – also make reference to user consultation and user involvement 3 Protocols –No 1 – User engagement

Code of Practice – Principle 1: Meeting user needs The production, management and dissemination of official statistics should meet the requirements of informed decision-making by government, public services, business, researchers and the public.

Code of Practice – Principle 1: Meeting user needs - practices 1.Engage effectively with users of statistics to promote trust and maximise public value, in accordance with Protocol 1. 2.Investigate and document the needs of users of official statistics and the types of decision they inform 3.Adopt systematic statistical planning arrangements, including transparent priority setting, that reflect the obligation to serve the public good. 4.Publish statistical reports according to a published timetable that takes account of user needs. 5.Publish information about users’ experiences of statistical services, data quality, and the format and timing of reports.

Code of Practice – Principle 4: Sound methods and assured quality - practices 2.Ensure that official statistics are produced to a level of quality that meets users’ needs, and that users are informed about the quality of statistical outputs, including estimates of the main sources of bias and other errors, and othe aspects of the European Statistical System definition of quality. 3.Adopt quality assurance procedures, including the consideration of each statistical product against users’ requirements, and of their coherence with other statistical products.

Code of Practice – Principle 8: Frankness and accessibility - practices 1.Provide information on the quality and reliability of statistics in relation to the range of potential uses, and on methods, procedures, and classifications. 3.Make statistics available in as much detail as is reliable and practicable, subject to legal and confidentiality constraints, offering choice and flexibility in the format according to the level of detail required by the user. 4.Publicise official statistics in ways that enable users to identify and access information relevant to their needs. Make access to official statistics as straightforward as possible by providing easy-to-use entry points.

Code of Practice – Protocol 1: User engagement - statement Effective user engagement is fundamental both to trust in statistics and securing maximum public value. This Protocol draws together the relevant practices set out elsewhere in the Code and expands on the requirements in relation to consultation.

Code of Practice – Protocol 1: User engagement - practices 1.Identify users. Document their statistical needs, and their wishes in terms of engagement. 2.Make users aware of how they can find the information they need. 3.Take account of users’ views on the presentation of statistics, and associated commentary, datasets and metadata. 4.Provide users with information about the quality of statistics, including any statistical biases. 5.Involve users in the evaluation of experimental statistics. 6.Seek feedback from users on their experiences of the statistical service they receive, data quality, and the format and timing of outputs. Review the feedback systematically. 7.Consult users before making changes that affect statistics (for example, to coverage, definitions, or methods) or publications.

Considerations for year ahead Are we consulting all users? How can we promote ScotStat further? Are we meeting all users’ needs? How can we engage users more pro-actively? Share your views in the workshops – –Trust in statistics – from a users’ perspective –Methods of disseminating statistics –Exploring gaps in Scottish statistics Will report back in a years’ time.