Unauthorized Access to Pre-release DWP Statistical Data
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In the UK, the Pre-release Access to Official Statistics Order 2008 has been implemented to regulate who can access official statistics before they are made public. This legislative measure is designed to limit pre-release access to those directly involved in the production, preparation, and quality assurance of the statistics, ensuring the trustworthiness and integrity of the data.
Under this order, when statistical releases are published, departments are required to disclose the job titles and organisations of individuals who have been granted pre-release access. This transparency is intended to maintain openness and adherence to the Code of Practice for Statistics.
For instance, lists of senior department officials, ministers, advisers, media officers, and other relevant roles may be published when specific statistical releases, such as the DBT national survey or Strategic Export Controls statistics, are released. This practice allows the public to understand who has had early access to the statistics and promotes the orderly release principle of the UK’s Code of Practice for Statistics.
The publication of pre-release access arrangements is a crucial step towards increasing transparency in the statistical release process. This move is aimed at fostering trust and confidence in the data that is presented to the public. The official term for the pre-release access list is "the list."
Departments are also required to publish details of the statistical releases to which the order applies, providing a comprehensive understanding of the data and the individuals involved in its release.
In summary, the Pre-release Access to Official Statistics Order 2008 promotes transparency and orderliness in the statistical release process by limiting pre-release access to those directly involved, disclosing the job titles and organisations of individuals with pre-release access, and publishing details of the statistical releases to which the order applies. This approach supports the UK’s commitment to openness and transparency in statistical data.
[1] Pre-release Access to Official Statistics Order 2008: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/1284/contents/made [2] Code of Practice for Statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statistics-and-data-transparency/code-of-practice-for-statistics [4] Examples of published pre-release access lists: https://www.ukstatisticsauthority.gov.uk/about-us/pre-release-access/
- The Pre-release Access to Official Statistics Order 2008 in the UK regulates the disclosure of financial information by limited pre-release access to those directly involved, ensuring the trustworthiness and integrity of the data.
- Departments are required to publish details of the statistical releases to which the Pre-release Access to Official Statistics Order applies, providing a comprehensive understanding of the financial data and the individuals involved in its release.
