1. How will the Office for Statistics Regulation enhance confidence in our changing world?
Statistics User Forum
27 March 2017
Thanks for the invite (to Ed)
Welcome the opportunity… recent developments
First – brief context to our work and the changes
OSR – working title – other suggestions are welcome!

2. A data-rich world Abundant digital information Ease of collection
Multi-source statistics
Proliferation of sources – loss of ‘monopoly’
Data in discourse

3. Four themes Clearly separate identity Statistics are a public asset
Our purpose: trustworthiness, quality, value
Our scope will continue to be statistics produced by Government. Our reach will be wider.
Bean review of ONS’s economic stats
Included some criticism of governance and regulatory activities
Sense in which ‘we’ have marked our own homework ie saying that ONS has had undue influence on regulator
We have been publicly critical of ONS’s statistics, and economic stats in particular on a number of occasions
Including removing the designation of NS from UK trade stats, RPI, CPIH, construction price and cost indices, overseas travel & tourism (as well as crime statistics)
But – perception is essential to credibility. We clearly have not been seen as separate from statistics production

4. Visibly separate from production
Policy & Standards
Compliance with Code
Systemic reviews
UK Statistics Authority
Office for National Statistics
Office for Statistics Regulation
Overall strategy
Governance of ONS/OSR
Policy, legislative developments
Role of statistics in society
Overall strategy
Governance of ONS/OSR
Policy, legislative developments
Role of statistics in society
DG for Regulation
National Statistician & Deputies
Other statistical producers
Code of Practice sets the standard - holds system to account

5. Statistics are a public asset
The value of this asset can be harmed by:
- Poor quality;
- Obsolescence; and
- Misuse
Commission from the Authority Board in response to Bean
Within the existing legal framework
We need to change perceptions,
be seen to challenge when standards not maintained and champion relevant statistics:
enhance public confidence in the trustworthiness, quality and value of statistics

6. Commission from the Authority Board in response to Bean
Within the existing legal framework
We need to change perceptions,
be seen to challenge when standards not maintained and champion relevant statistics:
enhance public confidence in the trustworthiness, quality and value of statistics

7. Enhancing public confidence in trustworthiness, quality and value
Commission from the Authority Board in response to Bean
Within the existing legal framework
We need to change perceptions,
be seen to challenge when standards not maintained and champion relevant statistics:
enhance public confidence in the trustworthiness, quality and value of statistics

8. Trustworthiness, quality and value
Trustworthy: statistics produced free from vested interest, based on the professional judgement.
Quality: statistics are the best available estimate of what they purport to measure and at the same time are not materially misleading.
Value: statistics are not just collections of data, but generate insight, answer the questions that people want to address and inform public debate.
Commission from the Authority Board in response to Bean
Within the existing legal framework
We need to change perceptions,
be seen to challenge when standards not maintained and champion relevant statistics:
enhance public confidence in the trustworthiness, quality and value of statistics

9. QUALITY VALUE Scope and reach TRUSTWORTHY National Statistics
Other official statistics
TRUSTWORTHY
QUALITY
VALUE
Information produced by non-government bodies
Aggregate/secondary analysis published by Government
Unit level/entity level data published by Government
Widening the scope….
But not for designation ie not planning on putting the badge on more stats
More about raising awareness of the standards given in the Code and their relevance more widely
ie voluntary compliance
Encouraging producers of other numerical information in public bodies eg MI to consider the Code
Also spoken with a number of other organisations eg think tanks and charities about applying the Code of Practice and making clear what parts of the Code they are complying with (and how); and what parts they are not (and why)

10. How we are changing We can’t just focus on the process of production
We will:
Refocus Assessment on the strategic value of statistics
Look system-wide at broad themes (e.g. health)
Celebrate excellence as well as draw attention to areas for improvement
Refresh the Code of Practice
Commission from the Authority Board in response to Bean
Within the existing legal framework
We need to change perceptions,
be seen to challenge when standards not maintained and champion relevant statistics:
enhance public confidence in the trustworthiness, quality and value of statistics

11. Office for Statistics Regulation
Clearly separate identity
Standing up for public value
Systemic focus
Advocates of trustworthiness, quality and value
Advocates of highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and value