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1. Statement ofÌýcomplianceÌý

ThisÌýstatement ofÌýcomplianceÌýsetsÌýout howÌýstatistics produced by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)Ìýcomply withÌýtheÌýÌýÌý

• PracticeÌý2.5:ÌýPublish a statement of compliance outlining how the statistics are produced in line with the core principles of trustworthiness, quality and valueÌý

°Õ³ó±ðÌýstatement is underpinned byÌýDSIT’s individual compliance documentsÌýon specific aspects of the Code of Practice.

2. PurposeÌý

°Õ³ó±ðÌýÌýprovides producers of official statistics with details of the practices that must be committed to when producing and releasing official statistics. ItÌýensures that statistics published by government serve the public, and are trustworthy, valuable and of high quality.Ìý

Our compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics means that users can have confidence in the people that produceÌýDSITÌýstatistics; that our statistics are robust,ÌýreliableÌýandÌýaccurate. Our statistics are regularly reviewed to ensure they support the needs of society for information.Ìý

This document sets outÌýDSIT’sÌýcommitment toÌýcomply withÌýthe threeÌýcore principlesÌýof the Code of Practice for Statistics:Ìý

• ³Ù°ù³Ü²õ³Ù·É´Ç°ù³Ù³ó¾±²Ô±ð²õ²õÌý

• ±ç³Ü²¹±ô¾±³Ù²âÌý

• value

3. TrustworthinessÌý

3.1 Show integrityÌý

DSITÌýisÌýcommittedÌýto using, collecting,ÌýaccessingÌýand sharing data ethically, and for the public good.ÌýOurÌýstatistics are produced by professional statisticians and analysts toÌýhigh standardsÌýand the systems and processes used to produce statistics and data are trustworthy.ÌýWe present data impartially,ÌýobjectivelyÌýand free from political and commercial influences.Ìý

3.2 Lead responsiblyÌý

The Chief Statistician (and Head of Profession) forÌýDSITÌýhas the capacity to call for new statistics to be published. The role of Chief Statistician is to ensure that the Code of Practice for Statistics is implemented acrossÌýDSIT. TheyÌýprovide wider leadership to the statisticalÌýcommunity, develop statisticalÌýcompetenceÌýand promoteÌýcontinual improvement in publications.Ìý

As a statistics community within DSIT and part of the wider Government Statistical ServiceÌý(GSS), we train and develop our skills regularlyÌýincluding through DSIT and GSS-wide community events. WeÌýensure weÌýdemonstrateÌýsound judgement and professionalism, apply the principles of the Code of Practice for Statistics and act with integrity, honesty,ÌýobjectivityÌýand impartiality.Ìý

The Chief StatisticianÌýmeets regularly with eachÌýteam producing official statisticsÌýtoÌýpromote effective user engagement,Ìýsupport development plans and embed the principles of the Code of Practice to the delivery of the statistics.Ìý

3.3 Be transparentÌý

DSITÌýstatistical publications are pre-announced and pre-release accessÌýlistsÌýareÌýpublished.ÌýAll releases are published atÌýthe standard time ofÌý09:30 on the day of publication and include contact details for the responsible statistician andÌýteamÌýproducing them.Ìý

°Â³ó±ð²ÔÌýDSIT producesÌýofficial statistics which haveÌýscheduled revisions,Ìýthese will be marked as provisional. If revisions areÌýrequired including to correct errors,Ìýthese will be madeÌýin accordance withÌýtheÌýDSIT revisions and corrections policy.ÌýMajor revisions will be made promptly and transparently. Minor revisions willÌýnormallyÌýbe made in the next scheduled publication.Ìý

3.4 Manage data responsiblyÌýÌý

DSITÌýfollows 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 andÌýin accordance withÌýdata protection legislation.ÌýAll our large statistical surveys are contracted out to reputable research agencies.

4. QualityÌý

4.1 Prioritise ±ç³Ü²¹±ô¾±³Ù²âÌý

Quality,Ìýincluding reliability,ÌýcomparabilityÌýand timeliness –ÌýisÌýregularly reviewed and evaluated by the producers of statistics. The extent of any limitations is fully explained alongside all published collections.ÌýDSIT employs 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.Ìý

Producers of statistics and data follow clear processes to deliver quality assurance as described in ourÌýquality management approach for official statisticsÌýand any errors are correctly in a transparent manner as described in ourÌýrevisions and corrections policy.Ìý

All statistics releases are signed off byÌýa senior statisticianÌýtoÌýmaintainÌýquality standards.Ìý

4.2 Be rigorousÌýÌý

DSIT statistics use a range ofÌýdata collectionÌýmethods and processesÌýappropriate forÌýtheirÌýobjectives. Surveys are an important method to capture considered thoughts of individuals, households and businessesÌýleads.ÌýAdministrative data andÌýtrained large language modelsÌýareÌýutilised toÌýcapture publicly available data.ÌýAll data are subject to data validation and consistency checks.ÌýAny limitations of these methods areÌýidentified, along with steps to reduce and minimise these, with topic and method experts consulted whereÌýappropriate.Ìý

4.3 Be open aboutÌý±ç³Ü²¹±ô¾±³Ù²âÌý

DSITÌýstatistics are based on the mostÌýappropriate dataÌýto meet intended uses. The impact of any data limitations is assessed, minimised and explained within statistical releases or the accompanying user guides.ÌýAny potential bias, uncertainty or limitation in the source data isÌýidentifiedÌýand the full extent of any impact, and how these are minimised, is made transparent to users within our publications. DSIT statistics are regularly reviewed for their quality and relevance with opportunities taken to develop data sources, analyticalÌýmethodsÌýand communication methods.Ìý

We endeavour to ensure source data are consistent and comparable over time, acrossÌýdifferent levelsÌýof aggregation and over geographic areas where possible.ÌýUsers of DSIT 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.Ìý

Statistical publicationÌýleadsÌýestablishÌýand maintain close relationships with those involved in the data collection process.ÌýTheyÌýshareÌýclear statements of data requirementsÌýwith data providers, explaining how and why the data are intended to be used.

5. ValueÌý

5.1 Be relevantÌý

DSITÌýaimsÌýto produce statistics and data that are useful, relevant, and support understanding ofÌýimportant issues.ÌýThis includes improving existing statistics and creating new ones through discussion and collaboration with stakeholders, and being responsible and efficient in the collection,ÌýsharingÌýand use of statistical information.Ìý

We are committed toÌýcontinuallyÌýreviewing ourÌýofficialÌýstatistics outputs to ensure they are relevant to users and toÌýidentifyÌýongoing opportunities for innovation and improvement.ÌýÌý

As set out in ourÌýpublic involvement and engagement strategy, DSIT will undertake consultations and callsÌýfor evidence when the department wishes to make:Ìý

• significant changes to the content of publicationsÌý

• significant changes to the method of publicationÌý

• major methodological changes to the production of statisticsÌý

• significant changes to how the departmentÌýpublishesÌýits statistics (e.g. the merging of several related publications into a single publication)Ìý

5.2 Be clearÌý

DSITÌýisÌýcommitted 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 usingÌýappropriate dataÌývisualisations. Each release will beÌýdisseminatedÌýthrough the relevant channels to encourage existing and potential users and stakeholders to engage with the statistics. An email address for theÌýresponsible statisticianÌýor teamÌýis included in every release for enquiries or general comments.Ìý

5.3 Be accessibleÌý

Statistics,ÌýdataÌýand metadata produced by DSIT areÌýeasy to accessÌýandÌýpublished in accessible formats in line withÌý. Micro data from our large surveys are available through the UK Data Service.ÌýWe take care of the information provided to us and respect the confidentiality of that information.

6. Further information and contact detailsÌý

For more information about the application of the Code of Practice for Statistics withinÌýDSITÌýplease seeÌýour compliance documents.

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR).ÌýÌý

OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness,Ìý±ç³Ü²¹±ô¾±³Ù²âÌýand value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.Ìý

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

Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailingÌýregulation@statistics.gov.ukÌý or via the OSR website.