Abstract

In an era marked by shrinking budgets, growing demands, and an increase in alternative data sources, it has never been more crucial for official statistics to demonstrate their value. More than this, as a vehicle to serving the public good, official statistics should always seek to provide as much value as possible to their customers. This session by the United Kingdom’s (UK) Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) explores the value of official statistics from a unique, regulatory standpoint, showcasing how value is practically understood and assessed in the UK.

As the independent regulator of official statistics in the UK, OSR sets standards that official statistics must meet through the UK Code of Practice for Statistics. This Code is framed around pillars of Trustworthiness, Quality and Value. ‘Value’ in the Code means producing statistics that support society’s need for information. As such, it is about putting direct, indirect and potential users at the heart of statistics production. However, it can be difficult for statistics producers to know what this means in practice, and to identify actionable steps that would help them provide value. Therefore, within the Code, OSR sets clear expectations of statistics producers; these expectations can be used in any country to explore and increase the value of their official statistics.

By fostering a culture where users and society are at the centre of statistics production, OSR supports work under the Conference of European Statisticians to redefine how value is perceived and demonstrated in the world of official statistics. This session will provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory perspective on assessing value, offering practical examples and actionable insights that can be used to enhance the value of official statistics worldwide.