UK Energy Statistics – Institutional arrangements

Iain MacLeay – Head Energy Balances, Prices and Publications

Date 27 September 2011

1. UK decentralized statistical organisation

2. Code of practice

3. DECC statistical organisation

4. Legal framework

5. Advantages / disadvantages

Contents

1. UK statistics are generally decentralizeda. 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,

b. Ministerial Departments responsible for collection and publication of their own data.

2. UK Statistics Authoritya. Provides governance for ONS,

b. Independent scrutiny (monitoring and evaluation) of all official statistics.

UK statistical organisation

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.

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

Code of practice

1. DECC has Chief Statistician and Head of Profession (HoP)

2. Team of around 30

a. Data collection/publication

b. Policy analysis and monitoring

3. Some statisticians out-bedded within policy teams

DECC statistical organisation

DECC Statistics Organogram

Energy Statistics

Laurent Ortmans Higher Statistical

Officer, HEOEmergency oil

stocks0300 068 5052

Anwar AnnutStatistical Officer

Energy balances & publications

0300 068 5060

Susan LomasAO

Energy prices 0300 068 5047

Tom Rouse Student

Energy consumption & regional energy0300 068 5037

Ruhi Babbar Student

Coal, electricity, downstream gas &

CHP0300 068 5046

Chris Michaels EO

Electricity, downstream gas

0300 068 5050

Charanjit Ransi Assist manager, EO

Downstream oil0300 068 5055

Sebastien McClay Student

Oil & gas0300 068 5053

Paul Gaught Higher Statistical

Officer, HEO Downstream oil0300 068 5038

Mita Kerai Higher Statistical

Officer, HEOCoal, electricity, downstream gas0300 068 5044

Duncan MillardHead of Team

Head of Profession for Statistics0300 068 5051

Damon Wingfield Statistician, Grade 7

Fuel poverty statistics0300 068 5058

Iain MacleayDeputy Director, Grade 6

Energy balances, prices & publications

0300 068 5048

Julian Prime Statistician, Grade 7Energy consumption, regional energy, Heat

0300 068 5054

Laura WilliamsAssistant Statistician

Fuel poverty statistics & domestic prices0300 068 5045

Kevin Harris HEO

Energy balances & publications

0300 068 5041

Jo MarvinHEO

Energy prices 0300 068 5049

ICCEE - 2 (g7, as/SStO) on GD, 2 in ONNE (g7, hsto), 1 (ssto, smart)

Chris MckeeHigher Statistical

OfficerFuel poverty analysis

in review team

VacantHigher Statistical

OfficerHeat (ICCEE)

Warren EvansStatistician, Grade 7

Emergency oil meausres, inc.oil

stocking policy, oil & upstream gas0300 068 5059

Mary Gregory Statistician, Grade 7

NEED0300 068 5856

VacantAS/AE/Higher Statistical

OfficerEconometrics

Vacant Grade 6

Energy efficiency and Renewables

James Hemingway Higher Statistical

Officer,HEOCoal, electricity,

downstream gas & CHP

0300 068 5042

Clive Evans Manager, HEOUpstream oil &

gas0300 068 5040

Alison JuddStatistician,Grade 7

Coal, electricity, downstream gas &

CHP0300 068 5043

Stephen OxleyHigher Statistical

OfficerEnergy efficiency0300 068 5025

Alison ColquhounHigher Statistical

OfficerFuel poverty analysis

Clive Sarjantson AO

Administrative tasks, Energy statistics team

0300 068 5056

Daniel ProctorStudent

Energy balances, prices & publications

0300 068 5057

Will RoseHigher Statistical OfficerEnergy consumption &

regional energy0300 068 6909

1. Range of legislation available includes

a. UK Stats of Trade Act 1947

b. UK Energy Act 1976

c. UK Gas Act 1986/1995

d. UK Electricity Act 1989

e. EU regulation on Energy Statistics 844/2010

f. Other EU directives and decisions

2. Mixed approach taken to data collection, some surveys compulsory under above powers, other data collected on voluntary basis.

Legal framework

1. Closer to policy – helps statisticians understand wider policy issues

2. Help with policy formulation

3. Better chance to influence administration systems

4. Closer contact with data providers (energy companies)

5. More knowledge of user needs

6. All statisticians are part of the GSS (Government Statistical Service)

Advantages

1. Perceptions on trust

a. But have code of practice and UK Stats Act, which govern behaviour

2. Lose some economies of scale

Disadvantages

1. Work closely with Government Statistical Colleagues

2. Movement of Statisticians between Departments (Statisticians the Government Statistical Service)

3. 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)

4. DECC statistics, like all government statistics subject to assessment and designation process (audit) to confirm produced in line with code of practice

5. Issues of trust around pre-release access (currently 24 hours in UK)

Other issues

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