< Previous | Contents

Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics 1998-1999

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE STATISTICAL SERVICES

Our roles and aims

Our role is to provide Parliament, government and the wider community with statistical information, analysis and advice on most aspects of Scottish life, to improve decision-making, stimulate research and inform debate. We aim to provide an authoritative and impartial picture of society and a window on the work and performance of government, which allows the impact of government policies and actions to be assessed. Information is available in a variety of paper forms and on the Scottish Executive Website at www.scotland.gov.uk/stats.

This is a National Statistics publication

National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

National Statistics publications are grouped under the following broad subject headings (themes):

This publication belongs to the Health & Care theme.

Our commitment to data suppliers

Confidentiality: Confidential data from statistical enquiries is handled in accordance with the Government Statistical Service Code of Practice and with the Data Protection Act.

Burden: Information is not collected unnecessarily, but only when there is a clearly identified need. Only the minimum amount of information is collected to meet this need.

Review of data collection: Data collection systems are reviewed regularly to ensure that the information is still required and that the collection system is operating cost-effectively. These reviews are conducted in conjunction with both users and suppliers of the data.

Liaison: Close liaison is maintained with major suppliers of statistical data, such as local authorities, by a system of liaison committees.

Feedback: Arrangements for major data suppliers to have access to the data (subject to confidentiality constraints) at no, or reduced, cost, is handled by the liaison committees or by direct consultation.

Our commitment to users

Consultation: We consult users about the development of our statistics.

Integrity: We ensure the statistics produced are not presented in a way which is misleading. We also comprehensively check the data at all stages to safeguard standards of accuracy.

Openness: We are completely open about our methods of collecting and processing data and about the methodology used in published analyses.

Release: We will provide on request all available statistical information, subject to confidentiality, reliability, pre-publication embargoes, and on sufficient resources being available to carry out the work involved. An appropriate charge may be made.

Timeliness: We guarantee that requests or correspondence will be given either a substantive reply within 7 working days or an acknowledgement to be followed up (by a stated date) with a substantive reply.

Correspondence and enquiries

Advice on specific areas of Scottish Executive statistical work can be obtained from staff at the telephone numbers given below:

Scottish Executive Statistics contacts

Other contacts for Scottish statistics

For general enquiries about National Statistics contact the National Statistics Public Enquiry Service on

020 7533 5888
minicom: 01633 812399
Email: info@statistics.gov.uk
Fax: 01633 652747

Letters:
Room DG/18,
1 Drummond Gate,
LONDON SW1V 2QQ

You can also find National Statistics on the internet - go to www.statistics.gov.uk

Current staff names, e-mail addresses and the bulletins listed below can be found on the Scottish Executive Web site at www.scotland.gov.uk/stats.
Further information on the General Register Office for Scotland is available on the website www.gro-scotland.gov.uk

Most Local Government Finance Statistical Publications relating to the Economy theme

Additional copies of these publications may be purchased from Scottish Executive Publication Sales, The Stationery Office Bookshop, 71 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH3 9AZ, Telephone: (0131) 228 4181, Fax: (0131) 622 7017. Cheques should be made payable to ‘The Stationery Office Limited’.

Complaints and suggestions

If you are not satisfied with our service, please write to the Chief Statistician, Mr Rob Wishart, Room 1-A75, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ, Telephone: (0131) 244 0302, e-mail rob.wishart@scotland.gov.uk. We also welcome any comments or suggestions that would help us to improve our standards of service.

< Previous | Contents