Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland 2008-09

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN GROUP

OUR AIM

To provide relevant and reliable information, analysis and advice that meet the needs of government, business and the people of Scotland.

OBJECTIVES

1. To produce statistics and analysis relevant to user needs by

• Developing our understanding of customer requirements to ensure statistics are kept relevant and analysis is well targeted;
• Developing the range of statistics and analysis we produce;
• Where practicable improving timeliness;
• Providing more statistics disaggregated by age, gender and ethnicity;
• Developing more data for small areas through the Neighbourhood Statistics project;
• Contributing to production of comparable statistics across the UK and internationally.

2. To ensure effective use of our statistics by

• Contributing more directly to policy processes inside and where possible outside government;
• Improving access to and presentation of data and analysis;
• Improving the advice provided on statistics.

3. To work effectively with users and providers by

• Maintaining arrangements to consult and involve users and providers;
• Involving users and providers in planning developments in outputs and processes;
• Minimising the burden on data providers through dropping or streamlining collections as appropriate, to ensure the benefits of the information justify the costs of collection.

4. To develop the quality of statistics by

• Assuring and improving quality as an integral part of data collection and analysis and through regular reviews in line with National Statistics quality strategy;
• Developing statistical methods, systems and classifications;
• Working with the rest of the Government Statistical Service to develop joint approaches/solutions where appropriate.

5. To assure the integrity of statistics by

• Maintaining and promoting integrity through implementation of the National Statistics Code of Practice and related protocols;
• Safeguarding the confidentiality of data subjects.

6. To ensure the efficient and effective delivery of statistics products and services by

• Making best use of all sources including administrative sources;
• Working with other analysts to maximise the contribution of our own and other analysts' work;
• Ensuring value for money;
• Making best use of Information and Communications Technology;
• Ensuring effective communication within the Statistician Group.

7. To develop our workforce and competences

• Ensuring recruitment of staff with the necessary skills and potential;
• Ensuring development of expertise amongst existing staff;
• Promoting and upholding the standards of the statistics profession.

This is a National Statistics publication

"This is a National Statistics publication. It has been produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice Protocol - see www.statistics.gov.uk/about_ns/cop/default.asp

These statistics undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference."

Details of pre-release access will be provided in the Scottish Government Statistics Website under 'Forthcoming Releases'

Correspondence and enquiries

Enquiries on Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland should be addressed to:

Sandy Stewart, Senior Statistician

Office of the Chief Economic Adviser
Scottish Government
Room 4.ER, St Andrews House
Edinburgh,
EH1 3DG

Telephone: (0131) 244 2825;
Fax: (0131) 244 2824
e-mail: sandy.stewart@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

General enquiries on Scottish Government statistics can be addressed to:

Niamh Laffan

Office of the Chief Statistician
Scottish Government
1N.04, St Andrews House
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

Telephone: (0131) 244 3331;
Fax: (0131) 244 0335
e-mail: statistics.enquiries@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

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

Scottish Government Statistics contacts

Schools - qualifications	(0131) 244 0315
Schools - pupils and teachers	(0131) 244 1689
Further and Higher Education	(0141) 242 0273
The Economy	(0131) 244 2234
Labour market	(0141) 242 5446
Business	(0141) 242 5446
Income, Tax and Benefits	(0131) 244 2583
Local government finance	(0131) 244 7033
Environment	(0131) 244 0445
Planning	(0131) 244 0439
Equality	(0131) 244 0324
Housing	(0131) 244 7236
Transport	(0131) 244 7255
Health	(0131) 244 3432
Community Care	(0131) 244 3777
Social Justice	(0131) 244 0442
Scottish Government personnel	(0131) 244 3926
Agricultural census and labour force	(0131) 244 6150
Fisheries	(0131) 244 6441
Courts and law	(0131) 244 2227
Recorded crime	(0131) 244 2635
Prisons	(0131) 244 2147

Other contacts for Scottish statistics

Forestry Commission	(0131) 314 6337
The Scottish Funding Councils for Higher and Further Education	(0131) 313 6575
General Register Office for Scotland
- Vital statistics and publications	(0131) 314 4243
- Population statistics, census statistics or digital boundary products	(0131) 314 4254

For general enquiries about National Statistics in the United Kingdom Government contact the National Statistics Public Enquiry Service on

+44 (0) 845 601 3034
minicom: +44 (0)1633 812399
Email: info@statistics.gov.uk
Fax: +44 (0)1633 652747
Letters:

Customer Contact Centre,
Room 1.015
Office for National Statistics,
Cardiff Road,
Newport
NP10 8XG

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

If you would like to be consulted about new or existing statistical collections or receive notification of forthcoming statistical publications, please register your interest on the Scottish Government ScotStat website at www.scotland.gov.uk/scotstat

Current contact points, e-mail addresses and the publications listed below as well as a range of other statistical publications can be found on the Scottish Government 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 recent Publications relating to the economy theme

Ref no.	Title	Last published	Price
	Gross Domestic Product for Scotland for the fourth quarter of 2009	21/04/2010	Free
	Scottish Manufactured Exports Estimates for the fourth quarter of 2009	01/04/2010	Free
	Input-Output Tables and Multipliers for Scotland (1998 - 2004)	31/03/2009	Free
	Scotland's Global Connections 2008	13/01/2010	Free

Additional copies of these publications may be purchased from Scottish Government Publication Sales, Blackwell's Bookshop, 53 South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1YS, Telephone: 0131 622 8283 or 0131 622 8258, Fax: 0131 557 8149. Cheques should be made payable to 'Blackwell's Bookshop'.

Complaints and suggestions

If you are not satisfied with our service, please write to the Chief Statistician, Mr Rob Wishart, 1N03, St Andrews House, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG, Telephone: (0131) 244 0302, e-mail rob.wishart@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. We also welcome any comments or suggestions that would help us to improve our standards of service.

Crown Copyright

Brief extracts from the Crown Copyright material in this publication may be reproduced provided the source is fully acknowledged.