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°Õ³ó±ðÌý (the Code)Ìýprovides producers of official statistics with theÌýstandardsÌýthey must commit to when producing and releasing official statistics.Ìý

It ensures that the statistics published by the government serve the public. When producers of official statisticsÌýcomply withÌýthe Code, it gives users of statistics and citizens confidence that published government statistics are of public value, are high quality and are produced by people and organisations that are worthy of trust.Ìý

The framework for the Code of Practice for Statistics is based on 3Ìýprinciples:Ìý

• trustworthiness – having confidence in the people and organisations that produce statistics and data

• quality – using suitable data and appropriate methods that produce assured statistics

• value – producing statistics that benefit the public by informing and supporting decision making, action and debate

The principles have 10 essential areas of practice.

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• show integrityÌý
• lead responsiblyÌý
• be transparentÌý
• manage data responsibly

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• prioritise qualityÌý
• be rigorousÌý
• be open about quality

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• be relevantÌý
• be clearÌý
• be accessible

DWPÌýcompliance with the CodeÌý

´¡±ô±ôÌýDepartment for Work and Pensions (DWP)Ìýofficial statistics are produced and publishedÌýin line withÌý set out in theÌýCode andÌýstatistical practicesÌýareÌýregulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR).ÌýÌý

Many of the statistics produced byÌýDWPÌýare accredited official statistics. This is the name for official statistics which have been independently reviewed by OSR and confirmed toÌýcomply withÌýthe standards of trustworthiness,ÌýqualityÌýand value in the Code.

Producers of accredited official statisticsÌýare required toÌýensure theyÌýcontinue toÌýmaintainÌýcompliance with the Code. Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.ÌýA Ìýis published on the OSR ·É±ð²ú²õ¾±³Ù±ð.Ìý

´¡±ô±ôÌýDWP official statisticsÌýare supported by a background, information and methodology noteÌýandÌýa releaseÌýstrategyÌýthat reflects the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the production and release of the statistics. For example, theÌýUniversal Credit statistics.Ìý

Users are invited to contact statistical producers directly with any comments about the statistics standards or contact OSR directly by emailingÌýregulation@statistics.gov.ukÌý or via the .Ìý

DWP Chief StatisticianÌý

The Chief Statistician hasÌýleadÌýresponsibilityÌýto ensure compliance with the Code and inÌýmakingÌýimpartial decisions about statisticsÌýso that the public can have confidence in the independent and objective nature of statistics.

Applying the standards for Official StatisticsÌý

The Code sets out 10 areas of practice. We meet these through the following actions.Ìý

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Show integrityÌý

• We publish statistics that are impartial and free from political interferenceÌýunder the direction and leadership of theÌýHead of Profession for StatisticsÌýÌý

• StatisticsÌýareÌýhandled with integrity andÌýimpartiality;Ìýstatisticians advise on the use of statistics in communications such as policy documents or press releases

Lead responsiblyÌý

• The Head of Profession for Statistics provides leadership,ÌýassuranceÌýandÌýprofessional judgement to decide methods,ÌýstandardsÌýand procedures, as well as the content, timing,ÌýfrequencyÌýand mode of release for regular and ad hoc statisticsÌý

• Clear governance and accountability arrangements are in placeÌýwithÌýguidanceÌýand support provided by the Central Statistics Team led by the Deputy Head of Profession for StatisticsÌý

• Analysts are supported toÌýprovideÌýindependent professional adviceÌýÌý

• We recruit our statisticiansÌý(and other analysts)Ìýin line withÌýDWPÌývalues.ÌýWeÌýalso use theÌýÌýforÌýstatisticians. Our statisticians are provided with resourcesÌýrequiredÌýto develop their skills, knowledge and competenciesÌýwhich includes learningÌýto develop as trusted,ÌýimpartialÌýand impactfulÌýcommunicators of key messages

Be transparentÌý

• Upcoming statistical publications are listed inÌýtheÌýResearch and statistics. We aim to provide a 12-month release calendar and announce the date of publication at least four weeks in advance.ÌýIf we make any changes to the calendar,ÌýweÌýclearlyÌýexplain why

• We publish our statistics onÌýGov.ukÌýat 9:30am on the announced dateÌý

• Access to our statistics before public release is limitedÌýto eligible officials 24 hours ahead of publication, as set out inÌý .ÌýAÌýlist of job titles and organisations of people who have been granted 24 hours pre-release accessÌýis publishedÌýPre-release access to DWP statisticsÌý

• We publish methods,ÌýassumptionsÌýand limitations, for example through the Background, Information and Methodology

• We explain revisions,ÌýcorrectionsÌýand delays clearlyÌýin line with the DWP revisions policyÌý

Manage data responsiblyÌý

• We handle data securely and in line with legal and ethical requirementsÌý

• We apply robust data governance and access controlsÌý

• We are clear about how data are used and protectedÌý

• We publishÌýourÌýConfidentiality policy and data management approachÌý

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Prioritise qualityÌý

• We apply structured quality assurance across the statistical lifecycleÌý

• We review outputs regularly toÌýidentifyÌýimprovementsÌý

Be rigorousÌý

• We use a variety of different data sources including administrative and survey inÌýthe production of our statistics. We consider the quality of each of these in the context of the statistics derived from them

• The statistics we publish are compiled by our statisticiansÌýand otherÌýanalystsÌýusingÌýappropriate dataÌýand methods

• We document and publish ourÌýmethodologyÌýalongside each of our statistical publicationsÌý

• We review and improve methods over timeÌýandÌýwe reÌýtransparent about our approachÌýby providing informationÌýalongside our publicationsÌýand through theÌýDWP statistical work programmeÌý

Be open about qualityÌý

• We publish quality andÌýmethodologyÌýinformationÌýwithÌýeach of ourÌýofficial statistics and adÌýhocsÌýandÌýhaveÌýpublishedÌýour quality management approachÌýÌýtoÌýexplain how it aligns withÌýourÌýcommitment to data quality

• We explain uncertainty,ÌýlimitationsÌýand risks of misinterpretationÌýfor example through the Background, Information and Methodology

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Be relevantÌý

• We aim to produce statistics that are useful, easy to access, relevant and support understanding. Our statistical analysis is publicly available, free of charge

• We engage with users to understand their needsÌýand seek feedback for each of our statistical releases andÌýthrough theÌýDWP statistical work programmeÌý

• We align our work programme to priority policy and public issuesÌý

• DWPÌýOfficial Statistics are producedÌýand publishedÌýto serve the public good and provide accountability over areas of departmental responsibility, policyÌýdecisionsÌýand the operational implementation of policyÌý

Be clearÌý

• We present official statisticsÌýclearly and unambiguously. We provide clear statistical commentary to explain trends and key features in the data. Our dataÌývisualisationsÌýand HTML publicationsÌýfollow best practice guidelinesÌý

• We provide context and explanation to supportÌýinterpretation,Ìýand technical termsÌýareÌýclearly explainedÌý

Be accessibleÌý

• We publish statistics openly on °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï in accessible formatsÌý

• We provide supporting data to enable further useÌýincluding throughÌýÌýwhich isÌýan online tool that allows the creation and download of customised statistical tables, as well as data visualisation through interactive charts

• We offer clear routes for user feedbackÌýincluding throughÌýeach of our statistical releases, targeted consultationsÌýand through theÌýDWP statistical work programmeÌýÌý

Standards for the public use of statistics, data and wider analysis

In addition toÌýcompliance with the Standards for Official Statistics,ÌýDWP appliesÌýthe when communicating statistics in the public domain. These 3 standards areÌýbuilt onÌýthe concept ofÌý, whichÌýis grounded in the core principles of the Code.Ìý

Equality of access

The aim is forÌýofficial statistics toÌýbe theÌýauthoritativeÌýsource ofÌýinformation used in the public domain. However, there may be times when there is a need to use previously unpublished information (including Management Information) in the public domain. In this case,Ìýan ad-hoc statistical releaseÌýwill be used to meet equality of access andÌýwillÌýbeÌýpre-announced and published as soon as possible.

Supporting understanding

Analysts work with communications colleagues to ensure all public statements which feature data and statisticsÌýcanÌýbe verified by published informationÌýandÌýthat theyÌýincludeÌýappropriate acknowledgementÌýof any uncertainties and context thatÌýusersÌýneed to be aware of if they are to interpret what they mean.

Decision making and leadership

All communications materials which feature data and statisticsÌýareÌýclearedÌýby aÌýlead analyst or the DWP chief statistician. Lead analysts provide a core role in the analytical community, working to the head of their directorate in areas across DWPÌýand as a cohesive leadership teamÌýinÌýprovidingÌýexpert advice when using statistics and data in the public domain.

Charges for supplementary statistical servicesÌý

Supplementary requests for statistics are handledÌýas business as usual, for example, Freedom of Information requests.Ìý

Policies and procedures for DWP statisticsÌý

Information on policies and procedures to ensure official statistics produced by DWPÌýcomply withÌýthe principles and protocols contained in theÌýCode are published online.

They include the:Ìý

• releaseÌýpracticeÌýpolicy
• revisions and correctionsÌýpolicy
• dataÌýmanagement approach andÌýconfidentiality policy
• DWPÌýstatisticalÌýworkÌýprogramme
• public involvement and engagementÌýstrategy
• voluntary application of the Code of Practice

Contact informationÌý

Contact DWP by email at statistics.hopsupport@dwp.gov.uk.