The key aims of Statistics Reform were to:
- Enhance the quality of Scottish Official Statistics; and
- Improve public confidence in Scottish Official Statistics.
To meet these aims the Statistics Reform programme consisted of two complementary packages of improvements - those brought about by the UK Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and other measures to improve the statistics service in Scotland, by:
- Clearly recognising the Official Statistics needed by the public;
- Enhancing the effectiveness of statistics in informing government decision making;
- Having appropriate standards for Official Statistics;
- Developing new arrangements for managing Official Statistics across the public sector; and
- Underlining professional independence and integrity.
The consultation paper "Improving Statisticial Services in Scotland" was published on 11 Decempber 2006. the consultation was in two parts, the first requesting views on the way proposed for the UK Statistics and Registration Service Bill in Scotland and the second part for opinions on the other measures to improve the statistics service in Scotland. the consultation, responses and a report outlining how the Statistics Reform programme was shaped following consultation are available at the following section.