Statement of Compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics – Revisions and Corrections Policy
Published 24 September 2020
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-compliance-with-the-code-of-practice-for-statistics-revisions-and-corrections-policy/statement-of-compliance-with-the-code-of-practice-for-statistics-revisions-and-corrections-policy
Introduction
This document has been published in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority’s requirement to publish a policy on scheduled revisions and unscheduled corrections as set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics.
Decisions on how to address errors in published statistics will be made by the Head of Profession for Statistics in the Home Office in consultation with the National Statistician as appropriate. Information on all such amendments will be placed on our website alongside the link to the published document.
Scheduled revisions
Scheduled revisions of data are planned amendments to published statistics in order to improve quality by incorporating additional data that were unavailable at the point of initial publication. These are a routine part of the production of official statistics. We will:
- pre-announce scheduled revisions to data
- provide users with clear and accessible information on such revisions and theirimplications
- make reference to revisions of previously published data that are reported in thelatest available statistical release and the reason for the revisions (where appropriate)
Unscheduled revisions
Unscheduled revisions are amendments made to published statistics in response to the identification of errors following their initial publication.
A decision on whether to make an unscheduled revision to published figures is made on a case by case basis. Usually unscheduled revisions would only be for substantial errors. The Chief Statistician has the final judgement on whether an unscheduled revision is required.
An error is considered to be substantial if the resultant change would qualify or contradict the conclusions that would previously have been drawn from the data. If this is the case, we will:
- correct the electronic versions of the release as soon as possible
- include a prominent alert on our website to notify users of the change
- alert stakeholders promptly
- use appropriate methods to communicate with users
If the error is not substantial, but in our professional judgement warrants immediate correction (for example a figure which is incorrect but doesn’t affect overall trends or conclusions), we will update electronic versions of the release and ensure the corrections are clear and transparent.
If the error is minor, textual, or unsubstantial, in the sense that any correction would be reasonably deemed inconsequential, we will issue a correction in the next release.
Further information and contact details
For more information about the application of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics within the Home Office please see:
Statement of Compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics
Statement of Compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics – Release practices
Home Office use of administrative sources for statistical purposes
Please contact the responsible statistician named in each publication for details on specific administrative sources. Alternatively, the Chief Statistician for the Home Office can be contacted at:
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF