National Statistics
The National Statistics logo is an assurance that statistics have been produced to the highest professional standards as set out in the UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice for Official Statistics published in January 2009. The Code sets out the key principles and standards which official statisticians are expected to follow and uphold. The Code contains eight principles and, in relation to each, a statement of associated practices that describe how those principles are to be implemented. There are also three Protocols, covering User Engagement, Release Practices and The Use of Administrative Sources for Statistical Purposes. The Code can be viewed on the UK Statistics Authority: Code of Practice web page.
Pre-Release access to Statistics Order 2008
The Pre-release access to Official Statistics Order 2008 came into force on 1 December 2008. This is an important part of the reform of official statistics following the introduction of the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007, which is designed to improve trust and confidence in official statistics.
In the interests of openness and transparency, the Order requires that all Government Departments maintain a public record listing the titles of all the statistical releases to which these arrangements apply, as well as the job titles of all those persons to whom pre-release access has been granted, and the organisations to which they belong.
DECC’s statement of compliance with the Pre-release access to Official Statistics Order 2008 and the list of statistical publications to which the Order applies is available:
Supporting documents
The UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice for Official Statistics requires that each Government Department publish a series of documents in support of the eight principles and three protocols contained in the code.
DECC’s documents are available below.
- Publish a Revisions Policy for those outputs that are subject to scheduled revisions. Provide a statement explaining the nature and extent of revisions at the same time that they are released.
Methodology notes detailing the surveys, data processes and data quality measures used in producing DECC's official statistics are published on the Energy sector statistics web pages.
DECC statistical surveys
A listing of all the main surveys used by DECC in compiling our energy statistics, containing details of the number of forms sent out, the population coverage and the response rates obtained is published here.
User views
UK Energy Sector Indicators, Energy Statistics, Emissions Statistics, and Fuel Poverty have all recently been reviewed by the UK Statistics Authority – a copy of their reports are available on the UK Statistics Authority: Assessment reports web page.
In response to recent assessment reports by the UK Statistics Authority the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) undertook a survey in 2010 to improve further our knowledge of users of our data, the needs of those users, and how DECC can going forward work with users to develop the suite of statistics that we produce. An analysis of the survey responses is now available.
Following the survey a DECC Statistics User Panel was established, the purpose of the panel will be to provide feedback on changes and ideas proposed by DECC, whilst also inviting panel members to propose ideas as to how our statistics can be developed. All users of DECC statistics will of course be able to continue providing DECC with feedback via the normal channel of communications, and any significant changes to our statistics would of course be subject to a full formal consultation.
Copies of DECC Statistics User Panel bulletins are listed:
If you have any views on DECC's statistics please submit your comments to DECC Energy Statistics and we will respond.