TQV voluntary statement
Published 22 April 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/policies-and-procedures-relating-to-dwp-official-statistics/tqv-voluntary-statement
Purpose
The Code of Practice (the Code) provides producers of official statistics with the standards they must commit to when producing and releasing official statistics.
It ensures that the statistics published by the government serve the public. When producers of official statistics comply with the Code, it gives users of statistics and citizens confidence that published government statistics are of public value, are high quality and are produced by people and organisations that are worthy of trust.
Voluntary application
Alongside publishing official statistics in full compliance with the standards of the Code, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) also release other analysis and management information. To ensure that we are open and accountable to users of our data, we are committed to upholding the Code principles and standards for public use of statistics through the voluntary application scheme run by the Office for Statistics Regulation.
The framework for the Code of Practice for Statistics is based on 3 principles:
- trustworthiness – having confidence in the people and organisations that produce statistics and data
- quality – using suitable data and appropriate methods that produce assured statistics
- value – producing statistics that benefit the public by informing and supporting decision making, action and debate
The principles have 10 essential areas of practice.
Trustworthiness
- show integrity
- lead responsibly
- be transparent
- manage data responsibly
Quality
- prioritise quality
- be rigorous
- be open about quality
Value
- be relevant
- be clear
- be accessible
To demonstrate DWP’s commitment to trustworthiness, quality and value (TQV), every release of DWP management information and ad hoc analyses includes a statement of application of TQV to demonstrate how the practices of the Code have been applied to each release.
Trustworthiness (building confidence in the people and organisations that produce statistics and data)
All DWP analysts work to a professional competency framework and to the Civil Service core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity, and impartiality.
All analysis is signed off by the expert lead analyst. The department’s head of profession for statistics will be consulted on the production and publication process and the timing of the publication, including pre-announcing the release and limiting access.
Quality (data and methods that produce assured statistics)
Quality is prioritised under the direction of the head of profession for statistics and the effectiveness of processes for quality management are regularly reviewed.
The process to produce analysis is conducted by professional analysts, taking account of the latest data and applying methods using their professional judgement.
All analysis placed in the public domain goes through a rigorous quality-assurance process and is signed off by the expert lead analyst and, where appropriate, the department’s head of profession for statistics.
Value (statistics that support society’s needs for information)
The publication of analysis ensures the statistics/data are equally available to all users, as well as providing transparency and up to date data.