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27. Both the Scottish Government and the UK Government produce Official Statistics on Scotland. This section clarifies in broad terms who produces what.
28. Production and publication of statistics is a function that is ancillary to other government functions. So statistics produced to support devolved decision-making are themselves devolved. Only statistics produced to support reserved functions are reserved by UK Government. There is no reserved power to produce general UK statistics other than on reserved matters. However the Statistics Concordat, a voluntary agreement, recognises the role of UK Government in producing such statistics.
29. In most cases who produces the statistics, and their devolved or reserved status are clear cut. It is for example evident that whilst there are some reserved functions which may require statistics on Scottish education, these should be produced as devolved statistics. Similarly whilst some statistics on defence may be relevant to a devolved function, these should be produced as reserved statistics.
30. So in practice statistics produced by the Scottish Government are generally accepted as devolved statistics. The UK Government's outputs are more complicated because of its role in producing UK wide statistics.
31. The following sets out the position with regard to the more complex areas. 6 Some information on arrangements for production and sharing of these statistics are set out in the Statistics Concordat. 7 See also paragraphs 70 to 71 below. Any of the arrangements below may be subject to sharing of costs, although the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is funded as a GB wide body for the most part.
(a) Statistics on devolved matters required by UK Government to meet international requirements.
Collection/production - These remain devolved statistics and are produced by the Scottish Government.
Publication - Responsibility for deciding first release remains with the Scottish Government. Most international outputs use already-published statistics and are published according to international protocols (e.g. Eurostat).
Supply - The role of the UK Government in meeting international requirements is recognised and supported through the Statistics Concordat. The Scottish Government will ensure the production of statistics on wholly devolved matters needed to meet such requirements.
(b) Statistics on devolved matters required to meet UK Government reserved policy needs such as for monetary and fiscal policy.
Collection/production- Production of such statistics also remains devolved in general.
Publication - Again responsibility for deciding first release remains with the Scottish Government and in most cases they are published first by the Scottish Government. Where statistics on devolved matters are published as part of a UK product for reserved purposes (e.g. National Accounts) the UK Government's protocols apply although subject to the Concordat.
Supply - The Scottish Government will ensure statistics needed to meet a statutory UK government requirement will be honoured. In relation to other UK Government requirements supply may depend on the business case.
(c) Statistics on devolved matters required to support the role of UK Government in producing UK wide statistical reports.
Collection/production - These are not produced in support of a reserved power but stem from the Statistics Concordat and a recognition of the importance of UK wide and inter-country comparisons on devolved as well as reserved matters. They remain devolved statistics.
There is a statutory requirement for the UK Statistics Authority to secure the consent of Scottish Ministers before producing such statistics. Other UK Departments are covered by the Concordat and in general are only able to do so by agreement.
Publication - Publication is as in (a) and (b) above.
Supply - Scottish Government will liaise with the UK Government and other devolved administrations to ensure that the need for statistics covering more than one country in the UK is addressed. Priority will be given according to the business cases available.
(d) Statistics on the economy, business and the labour market.
Collection/production- At devolution in 1999 UK Government retained its statistical functions and resources involved in these statistics, even where the primary statistical use was in relation to devolved matters. The Scottish Government therefore focuses on the following:
- producing additional statistical outputs and analyses specific to Scotland to meet Scottish needs, but mostly derived from UK Government sources.
- improving the quality of UK statistical sources and outputs in collaboration with UK Government.
- funding improvements to these sources considered necessary for devolved purposes.
- developing a limited number of new sources to enhance the above.
Publication - The main UK outputs and many Scottish figures are published by UK Government according to their protocols. The Scottish Government publishes most of the outputs of its own work noted above, including any survey boosts and is responsible for deciding publication arrangements for such boosts.
Supply - Supply of such statistics is covered by the Concordat and various other agreements ( see para 70(c)).
(e) Other UK surveys and data collection covering reserved and devolved matters
Collection/production - it is convenient for some surveys to be carried out across the UK and to include questions on devolved matters. Resultant statistics on devolved matters are devolved. This includes the General Household Survey now moving to become part of the ONS Integrated Survey.
Some cross-border bodies also collect data in relation to Scottish devolved matters. This includes the Higher Education Statistics Agency and the Forestry Commission.
All such statistics remain devolved even though produced by UK bodies and Scottish Ministers' agreement is required for their production.
Publication - Scottish Ministers may agree to the first release of such statistics as part of a UK or GB publication. Discussions on appropriate release arrangements are still to take place.
32. None of the above precludes the incidental use of already published statistics by UK Government or by Scottish Government to support reserved or devolved matters respectively.
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