Office of the Chief Statistician

Written 22 posts

New headline measure of COVID-19 test positivity rate

19th October 2020

We are changing the way we report the COVID-19 positivity rate as of 19 October 2020. The new approach addresses a limitation of the previous approach. This blog outlines why we are making this change and what its impact will be. Current approach The Scottish Government has been reporting data on the number of new…

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Counting people in hospital with COVID-19

15th September 2020

We are changing the way we count people in hospital with confirmed COVID-19 as of 15 September 2020. The new figures are lower than the previous published management information and we have a break in the time series. This blog explains why and how. Current situation Every day since mid-March, the Scottish Government has been…

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Planned changes to coronavirus data page on Scottish Government website

20th July 2020

Blog Updated on 28/07/2020 We have been publishing data every day since early April on the Scottish Government website. Given where Scotland is now in the pandemic, we think it’s a good time to refocus this publication. Some of the information developments in Scotland include: Public Health Scotland COVID-19 data – the weekly report published…

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Analysis and data around COVID-19

4th June 2020

Current analysis and data around COVID-19 Scottish Government (SG), Public Health Scotland (PHS) and National Records of Scotland (NRS) have been working together to produce a range of information to provide insight into the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect it is having in Scotland. Scottish Government publish daily coronavirus data for Scotland (updated each day…

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RESAS: Revised Schedule of Agricultural Surveys and Outputs

27th April 2020

Rural and Environmental Science and Agricultural Services (RESAS) collect a range of statistical information on the agricultural sector which is the evidence base for the majority of our analysis on agriculture. However, in light of the current guidance from the Scottish Government and the Chief Medical Officer we have had to change our planned schedule…

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Bespoke Data Access Requests – Covid-19 Update

2nd April 2020

In light of the extraordinary situation we are now in, in relation to COVID-19 and given the challenges we are all facing, this is an update on our contingency arrangements. As our analytical staff are supporting mission-critical work with other colleagues across government, we have had to make some difficult decisions in relation to current…

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COVID-19 and the production of statistics and social research

24th March 2020

Statisticians and researchers within The Scottish Government and other public bodies collect, analyse and publish official statistics and research reports to help government, business and the public make informed decisions. The coronavirus illness (COVID-19) is a significant challenge to us all, and we are working with colleagues across the Government Statistical Service and Government Social…

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Working Group on Sex and Gender in Data – March update

10th March 2020

  By Roger Halliday, Chief Statistician You will know that I was asked by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People to put together guidance to support public bodies collect and present data on sex and gender. I have brought together experts in collecting and presenting data from across the UK. We met…

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Working Group on Sex and Gender in Data – January update

30th January 2020

By Roger Halliday, Chief Statistician As a reminder, I was asked by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People to bring forward guidance to support public bodies collect and present data on sex and gender. I have brought together experts in collecting and presenting data from across the UK, and we have now…

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Working Group on sex and gender in data – Update

3rd December 2019

By Roger Halliday, Chief Statistician I was asked by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People to bring forward guidance to support public bodies collect and present data on sex and gender. I have brought together experts in collecting and presenting data from across the UK, and we have now met three times….

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