Case Study 2

Case Study 2: Request for early release of data to ensure figures gain maximum publicity

SCENARIO

The managers of a regular pre-announced National Statistics release asked whether it would be permissible under the Code to accede to a one-off Ministerial request to issue a release to the press at 7 o´clock in the morning in order to ensure that these particular statistics gained wide publicity e.g. on the BBC Radio 4 ´Today Programme´.

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
  using professional judgement
  
• Release Practices
  Principle 1: the need to ensure ´equality of access´ (i.e. release made equally available to all at the same time)
  Principle 2: final responsibility for the timing of release should rest with Heads of Profession
  Principle 5: release should be orderly (i.e. consistent over time and within the working day, in order to convenience the widest range of users)
  Principle 6: timing should not be set in such a way as to create a presumed advantage to any particular group or individual

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 refuse this Ministerial request, but to consider adjusting the times of future releases. 

The rationale for the decision was that, within this situation, the working day would be deemed to start at 9 o´clock in the morning. Releasing the figures within the working day ensures that:

• professional support is available at the time of release;
  
• there is no perception that Ministers are able to appear on an early morning news programme in order to get their story in first, thereby wrong-footing their opponents before they have had time to absorb the new information
  
• there is better publicity for National Statistics; and
  
• increased access because of this publicity.

 Case study as word document