Case Study 6

Case Study 6: Changing the date of a release

SCENARIO

A few days before a National Statistics release was due to be issued, Ministers (who had received pre-release access for briefing purposes) asked if the release could be delayed for a day so as to coincide with another key (and related) event which Ministers wanted to organise for stakeholders and the media.

It was not possible to alter Ministers´ diaries to coincide with the date of the release. The Minister´s Private Office asked, therefore, whether the release itself could be delayed.

QUESTION

Which principles and protocols of the Code of Practice are relevant to this scenario?

SUGGESTED RELEVANT PRINCIPLES

The following principles might be considered to be the most relevant to this scenario:

• Integrity
• Accessibility

SUGGESTED RELEVANT PROTOCOLS

The following protocols might be considered to be the most relevant to this scenario:

• Professional Competence Protocol
  - Using Professional Judgement
• Release Practices Protocol
  Principle 2  - Final responsibility for the timing of releases rests with Heads of Profession.
  Principle 3  - National Statistics will be released separately from statements by Ministers about the figures.
  Principle 5 - Release will be as early as possible after compilation.
  Principle 6 - Timing will not be influenced by the content of the release.
  Principle 6b: Any alteration to a pre-announced release date  will be made public as early as possible and accompanied by an explanation for the change.

Any reason for change would have to be posted on the National Statistics website.

QUESTION

What recommendations do you have?  In what way does the Code of Practice influence your recommendations?

SUGGESTED RECOMMENDATIONS

The managers of this release were advised to resist any request to delay publication. The rationale was as follows.

Decisions on the timing of releases are a professional responsibility and should be based on the ´early as possible´ principle. Any pre-announced release date should be adhered to, and not altered because of political or media considerations. There must also be a clear separation between a statistical release and a political statement.

In this particular case, acquiescence with Ministers´ request might give rise to suspicions that the change was inspired by Ministers´ prior knowledge of the contents of the release and a desire on their part to put their own ´spin´ on the figures, rather than any desire on their part to make themselves available to the media and stakeholders.

 Case study as word document