Exemptions to the specific practices of Code of Practice for Statistics

Exemptions are rare. They have mainly been agreed where it is not possible to give contact information for the responsible statistician for security reasons, or to not release at 9.30am due to specific circumstances.

Should circumstances call for an exemption for a specific practice, Heads of Profession should raise the matter with the Director General for Regulation, Ed Humpherson. The Office for Statistics Regulation supports sensible changes to existing production practices and will quickly consider any requests for exemptions that are in the public interest.

T2.9 In rare circumstances, an organisation may not be able to implement a specific practice of the Code. In this situation, the Chief Statistician/Head of Profession for Statistics should request an exemption from that practice of the Code from the Director General for Regulation and publish details of the exemption.

Table of exemptions granted by the Director General for Regulation on behalf of the UK Statistics Authority


Producer bodyStatisticsNature of exemptionDurationRelevant links if any
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research AgencyWeekly deaths statisticsPublish weekly deaths statistics on 23 December to avoid publication of the statistics on Christmas EveUntil December 2021Letter from Ed Humpherson
Office for National StatisticsMarket sensitive economic statisticsPublish market sensitive statistics at 7am rather than 9.30am in the absence of media lock-insUntil further noticeLetter and reply
Welsh GovernmentKey economic statisticsPublish market sensitive statistics at 7am rather than 9.30am to coordinate with ONS releasesUntil further noticeLetter and reply
Scottish GovernmentKey economic statisticsPublish market sensitive statistics at 7am rather than 9.30am to coordinate with ONS releasesUntil further noticeLetter and reply
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research AgencyMarket sensitive economic statisticsPublish market sensitive statistics at 7am rather than 9.30am to coordinate with ONS releasesUntil further noticeLetter and reply
HM TreasuryUK Official Holdings of International ReservesPublish market sensitive statistics at 7am rather than 9.30am to coordinate with ONS releasesUntil July 2021Letter from Ed Humpherson
National Records of ScotlandWeekly death statisticsPublish statistics at noon rather than 9.30am to allow for quality assuranceUntil further noticeLetter from Ed Humpherson
Public Health ScotlandWeekly COVID-19 reportPublish at 12 noon rather than 9.30am in line with other related statisticsUntil further noticeLetter from Scott Heald
Reply from Ed Humpherson

Reply from Scott Heald

Welsh GovernmentChildren and staff attendance at local authority settings in Wales during the COVID-19 pandemicPublish statistics at noon rather than 9.30amUntil further noticeLetter from Ed Humpherson
Department of Health, Northern IrelandDaily COVID-19 statistics dashboardPublish at 2pm rather than 9.30amUntil further noticeLetter from Dr Eugene Mooney
Letter from Ed Humpherson
Department for EducationAttendance at education and childcare setting during coronavirus outbreakPublish statistics at noon rather than 9.30am to allow for quality assuranceUntil further noticeLetter from Ed Humpherson
Office for National StatisticsCoronavirus (Covid-19) Infection Survey statisticsPublish at 12 noon rather than 9.30amUntil further noticeLetter from Ed Humpherson
Office for National StatisticsCOVID-19 Infection SurveyPublish statistics at 11am on 31 July 2020 instead of 12pmOnce on 31 July 2020Letter and reply
Welsh GovernmentCOVID-19 Infection Survey ResultsPublish at 12 noon rather than 9.30amUntil further noticeLetter from Ed Humpherson
Department of Health NICOVID-19 Infection Survey ResultsPublish at 12 noon rather than 9.30amUntil further noticeLetter from Ed Humpherson
Office for National StatisticsCOVID-19 Infection Survey ResultsPublish statistics at 10:30am on Thursday 26 November instead of 12 noon on Friday 27 November.Once on Thursday 26 NovemberLetter from Ed Humpherson
Office for National StatisticsCoronavirus (COVID-19) weekly insights: Key health indicators in EnglandPublish statistics at 12 noon on a Friday instead of 9.30am.Until further noticeLetter from Ed Humpherson
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)Weekly deaths statisticsPublish statistics at 4.00pm instead of 9.30am, and publish on Wednesday 23 December instead of Friday 25 December.Once on Wednesday 23 DecemberLetter from Ed Humpherson

ProducerStatisticsExempted practice Reason Date granted
Probation Board for Northern IrelandAll the Probation Board for Northern Ireland’s statistical releasesName and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statisticsSecurity24 September 2020
Office of the Police Ombudsman NIAll Office of the Police Ombudsman Northern Ireland statistical releasesName and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statisticsSecurity24 September 2020
Public Prosecution Service for Northern IrelandPublic Prosecution Service (PPS) statistical releasesName and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statisticsSecurity
Northern Ireland OfficeTerrorism legislation statisticsName and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statisticsSecurity22 October 2018
Welsh GovernmentMid-year population estimates, Electoral roll statistics, National population projections9:30 release timeTo carry out adequate quality assurance in time for a 12:30pm publication, three hours after access to data at the time of the ONS release at 9:30am22 March 2018
Department for EducationKey stage 2 assessment results9:30 release timeBecause of the compressed timescale, it is highly unlikely that DfE can release these results at 9.30am, but expects to publish them as soon as possible after 11am5 July 2016
Office for National StatisticsNational AccountsTo correct errors, and alert stakeholders, promptlyThe complexity of compiling the UK National Accounts means that it is, on occasions, not in the user interest for ONS to spend time correcting data immediately21 March 2016
Department for Business, Innovation and SkillsExport licensesName and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statisticsSecurity4 June 2015
Home OfficeScientific Procedures on Living Animals9:30 release timeStatutory obligation to lay document before Parliament25 June 2015
Department of Justice Northern IrelandDJNI statistical reportsName and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statisticsSecurity16 April 2013
Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTuberculosis in CattleName and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statisticsSecurity24 Sept ember 2012
Ministry of DefenceMoD statistical reportsName and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statisticsSecurity7 February 2012
Department of Health and Social Care [then Department of Health]AbortionsName and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statisticsSecurity19 December 2011
Department of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNI weekly Agricultural Market Report9:30 release timeAs a weekly release to issue as soon as it is available on Thursday afternoons, rather than wait until 9.30am the following day14 October 2011
Office for National StatisticsRPICorrect errors discovered in statistical reports, and alert stakeholders, promptlyPractical problems caused to users, particularly in relation to the use of the RPI for index-linking30 September 2011
Office for National StatisticsRPIThe relevant statistical Head of Profession has the sole responsibility for deciding on statistical methods, standards and procedures, and on the content and timing of statistical releasesThe Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 requires the Chancellor rather than ONS’s Head of Profession to approve fundamental changes to the coverage and basic calculation of the RPI in certain circumstances30 September 2011
Police Service of Northern IrelandPSNI statistical reportsName and contact details of the lead statistician to be included in published statisticsSecurity16 August 2011
Office for National Statistics - EXPIREDONS statistical reports9:30 release timeInitial introduction of new website – ONS couldn’t guarantee 9.30am release17 January 2011