CESSATIONS AND CHANGES TO SCOPE OF OFFICIAL STATISTICS: GUIDANCE FOR
HEADS OF PROFESSION1
1.
PRODUCER CONSIDERING CEASING THE PUBLICATION OF OFFICIAL STATISTICS
1.1
Producers should inform the National Statistician of their intent to cease the publication of official
statistics in the following two sets of circumstances –
(a) where the producer is proposing to cease the publication of some statistics and is seeking the
views of users; and,
(b) where on the instructions of the person responsible (usually the Minister in charge of the
department), publication is to be ended immediately.
1.2
In both cases, the Head of Profession is asked to inform the National Statistician by completing the
template in Annex 1 of this document. The National Statistician’s Office will use this information to
provide advice to the National Statistician, conferring with the Monitoring and Assessment Team as
necessary.
1.3
In the case of immediate cessation, the Head of Profession should inform the National Statistician at
the earliest opportunity in order that she can decide upon the appropriate action.
1.4
Where the producer is seeking the views of users prior to making a decision, the Head of Profession
is asked to inform the National Statistician at the time of the consultation. The National Statistician’s
Office will then inform others about the consultation. In such circumstances, it will not be possible at
that stage to fully complete the section of the template regarding the impact on users. If, following
the consultation, a decision is taken to go ahead with the cessation then the Head of Profession
should update the template and resubmit to the National Statistician.
2.
PRODUCER WISHES TO CHANGE THE SCOPE OF OFFICIAL STATISTICS
2.1
Producers should also inform the National Statistician of their intent to change an official statistics
product where that change could potentially impact adversely on the quality, comparability or
coverage of the statistics.
2.2
If the product is fundamentally about the same topic, released in a similar way, and uses similar
data and/or methods then it remains in essence the same product. The type of activities that might
legitimately take place within that broad description include improved sampling methods, an
increased sample size, improvements to coverage within the topic and refinements and/or
improvements to the tables/charts presented in the publication. The Code of Practice for Official
Statistics requires outputs to be developed in response to users’ wishes, methods to be continually
reviewed etc. In these circumstances, there is no need to inform the National Statistician. If
designated as National Statistics, the current designation would continue.
2.3
However, there are many potential changes to a statistical output that could have a potential impact
on quality, coverage or comparability. These include, but are not limited to where:
 the frequency of collection or publication is altered;
 survey sample sizes are reduced;
This guidance supersedes the document entitled ‘Designation of National Statistics: Framework’ issued to Heads of
Profession on 10th August 2010.
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methodology is changed in a manner which impacts either on comparability with previous years’
figures or UK/international comparability;
statistics or supplementary analysis are removed or added;
a different type of statistic is produced (e.g. a ratio rather than counts);
the output method is changed;
the structure of the output is changed, either by consolidating two or more products or splitting a
single product;
coverage of the publication is broadened to new topics outside the broad boundary that defines
the current scope; or
the release is adapted to reflect new government policies/targets (in the sense that something
different is measured, not just that a different number is aimed for).
2.4
Where a Head of Profession believes that that the sorts of changes made to a product align with
those described in paragraph 2.3 then he/she is asked to inform the National Statistician’s Office
using the template in Annex 2, who will use this information to advise the National Statistician and
the Head of Assessment.
2.5
In these circumstances, where the product in question is designated as National Statistics, there
may be a question as to whether this existing National Statistics designation continues to apply. The
Head of Assessment will therefore assess the evidence provided by the producer, and may seek
others’ views, to inform his own view about what action may be necessary. This may range from no
action being required at all, to whether the proposed change(s) appears significant enough to
warrant a re-assessment taking place.
Annex 1: Template for reporting cessations to Official Statistics:
Name of output:
Description of statistics:
Status:
Proposed / Confirmed
Reasons for cessation:
Date of cessation:
Proposed date if consultation still underway.
Details of user consultation:
Include:
 Details of how users alerted to
consultation;
 Length of consultation period; and
 Relevant links.
Assessment of impact on users:
Complete as far as is possible if currently
awaiting outcome of consultation. Include
details of other sources of statistics, whether
official or otherwise, that may be used as
alternatives.
Net impact on departmental statistical
expenditure:
Distinguish between actual reductions in
statistical expenditure and savings reinvested
into other statistical outputs.
Impact on quality:
List any impact on survey sample size,
frequency of surveys/outputs and ability to
make across UK comparisons etc.
Please submit to: nsoffice.enquiries@statistics.gsi.gov.uk
Annex 2: Template for reporting changes to the scope of Official Statistics:
Name of output:
Description of statistics:
Status:
Proposed / Confirmed
Description of (proposed) change(s):
Reasons for change:
Date of change:
Proposed date if consultation still underway.
Details of user consultation:
Include:
 Details of how users alerted to
consultation;
 Length of consultation period; and
 Relevant links.
Assessment of impact on users:
Complete as far as is possible if currently
awaiting outcome of consultation.
Net impact on departmental statistical
expenditure:
Distinguish between actual reductions in
statistical expenditure and savings reinvested
into other statistical outputs.
Impact on quality:
List any impact on survey sample size,
frequency of surveys/outputs and ability to make
across UK comparisons etc.
Please submit to: nsoffice.enquiries@statistics.gsi.gov.uk