UK Energy Statistics – Institutional arrangements

1. UK Energy Statistics – Institutional arrangements Iain MacLeay – Head Energy Balances, Prices and Publications Date 27 September 2011

2. Contents • UK decentralized statistical organisation • Code of practice • DECC statistical organisation • Legal framework • Advantages / disadvantages

3. UK statistical organisation • UK statistics are generally decentralized • Office for National Statistics (ONS) in centre, responsible for collection and publication of statistics related to economy, population and society at both national and local level, • Ministerial Departments responsible for collection and publication of their own data. • UK Statistics Authority • Provides governance for ONS, • Independent scrutiny (monitoring and evaluation) of all official statistics.

4. Code of practice Published January 2009, consistent with core Civil Service values: • Integrity – putting the public interest above organisational, political or personal interests. • Honesty – being truthful and open about the statistics and their interpretation. • Objectivity – using scientific methods to collect statistics and basing statistical advice on rigorous analysis of the evidence. • Impartiality – acting solely according to the merits of the statistical evidence, serving equally well all aspects of the public interest. • Users– all users: government, business, public will have equal rights to data/services at the same time.

5. Code of practice 8 principles 1: Meeting user needs 2: Impartiality and objectivity 3: Integrity 4: Sound methods and assured quality 5: Confidentiality 6: Proportionate burden 7: Resources 8: Frankness and accessibility 3 protocols 1: User engagement 2: Release practices 3: The use of administrative sources for statistical purposes http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/code-of-practice/index.html

6. DECC statistical organisation • DECC has Chief Statistician and Head of Profession (HoP) • Team of around 30 • Data collection/publication • Policy analysis and monitoring • Some statisticians out-bedded within policy teams

7. DECC Statistics Organogram

8. Legal framework • Range of legislation available includes • UK Stats of Trade Act 1947 • UK Energy Act 1976 • UK Gas Act 1986/1995 • UK Electricity Act 1989 • EU regulation on Energy Statistics 844/2010 • Other EU directives and decisions • Mixed approach taken to data collection, some surveys compulsory under above powers, other data collected on voluntary basis.

9. Advantages • Closer to policy – helps statisticians understand wider policy issues • Help with policy formulation • Better chance to influence administration systems • Closer contact with data providers (energy companies) • More knowledge of user needs • All statisticians are part of the GSS (Government Statistical Service)

10. Disadvantages • Perceptions on trust • But have code of practice and UK Stats Act, which govern behaviour • Lose some economies of scale

11. Other issues • Work closely with Government Statistical Colleagues • Movement of Statisticians between Departments (Statisticians the Government Statistical Service) • Data collection and analysis sub-contracted both ways between DECC and ONS (DECC collect producer prices from energy industry, ONS run surveys of energy prices paid by industry) • DECC statistics, like all government statistics subject to assessment and designation process (audit) to confirm produced in line with code of practice • Issues of trust around pre-release access (currently 24 hours in UK)

12. Key benefits of non NSI solution • Evidence based policy making • Closeness to key policy customers • Closeness to energy supply companies • Involvement with Ministers • Breadth of work undertaken by statisticians • But we still maintain National Statistics focus • Head of Profession, not Ministers, responsible for release dates and quality of outputs