Official Statistics Section

The Official Statistics Section provides an independent forum for the discussion of key issues and findings in the field of official statistics, including both practice and methodology. The main opportunities for discussion are through the Section's programme of meetings. Section meetings are likely to be of interest to statisticians and policy specialists working in government departments, academics, and to many people who use statistics but who would not consider themselves primarily as statisticians and are not members of the RSS. We encourage everyone who has an interest in official statistics to get involved in the activities of the Section. The activities of the Section are managed by the Committee.

"Official statistics" are produced by government departments and agencies to help in the development, implementation and monitoring of government policies; and to inform decision making, debate and evaluation, both within government and outside it. Those official figures managed in accordance with a centrally supervised code of practice are labelled "National Statistics".

Parliament, government, academia, and many organisations in the private and voluntary sectors need official statistics to assist in decision-making and the development, implementation and evaluation of policy. As members of the public we all rely on official statistics as part of the democratic process to help us assess government policy, to ensure public accountability, and to be adequately informed about local, regional and national social and economic conditions, and to compare the UK situation internationally.

The full remit for the section is available here.