Welcome to Official Statistics Online

STATISTICAL REFORM
Following a review of the National Statistics Framework document the Chancellor in November 2005, announced to Parliament the government’s intention to legislate for independence in statistics. This culminated in the commencement of the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 on 1st April 2008. At this point the Statistics Board (known as the United Kingdom Statistics Authority), an independent body operating at arm’s length from government as a non-ministerial government department directly accountable to Parliament, came into being. The new Authority is established with a statutory objective to promote and safeguard the production and publication of official statistics that serve the public good.

In order to preserve and enhance the integrity and levels of public confidence in Official Statistics, arrangements were made for the provisions of the Statistics and Registration Service Act to extend to Northern Ireland to allow the UK Statistics Authority to operate here.  NISRA is committed to complying with the principles of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics which was published by the UK Statistics Authority in January 2009. The Code builds on, and supersedes, the former National Statistics Code of Practice. Official Statistics that comply with the Code are designated as National Statistics. Compliance with the Code is a statutory requirement on bodies that produce statistics that have already been designated as National Statistics.

The UK Statistics Authority will monitor the production and publication of official statistics in Northern Ireland and report any concerns to those responsible for them. Official Statistics which Northern Ireland Departments wish to see assigned as National Statistics will be assessed against the new Code of Practice for Official Statistics. 

NATIONAL STATISTICS

National Statistics stand for relevance, quality, integrity and freedom from political interference. They provide an up-to-date, comprehensive and meaningful description of the UK´s economy and society. National Statistics covers government data produced to the high professional principles and standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

The creation of National Statistics was announced in the Government White Paper Building Trust in Statistics (October 1999). The Framework Document accompanied the launch of National Statistics in June 2000. It articulated the Government´s commitment to providing a ´statistical service that is open and responsive to society´s needs and the public agenda: better and more reliable official statistics that command public confidence.´