Transparency data

BDUK annual performance report 2024: statement of voluntary application of the Code of Practice for Statistics

Published 13 December 2024

1. Introduction

Building Digital UK’s (BDUK) annual performance report presents the number of premises that have received a gigabit-capable connection through BDUK subsidy. The report is published annually as part of BDUK’s annual report and accounts (ARA).

To further build confidence and trust in our reports, BDUK has published this statement to outline the steps we have taken to voluntarily apply the Code of Practice for Statistics as we progress towards publishing these figures quarterly as official statistics.

The Code comprises 3 main concepts, or pillars:

• trustworthiness – a product of the people, systems and processes within organisations that enable and support the production of statistics and data
• quality – that statistics fit their intended uses, are based on appropriate data and methods, and are not materially misleading
• value – that statistics and data are useful, easy to access, remain relevant, and support understanding of important issues

2. Trustworthiness

BDUK’s performance report is compiled by members of the government analytical professions in BDUK, under the guidance of the lead official for statistics at BDUK and the Head of Profession for Statistics at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

These figures are released with BDUK’s annual report and accounts (ARA), which requires ministerial approval for its timing. We have not complied with the pre-announcement process for official statistics, and instead have published the performance report through the ARA process. We also have not restricted access to the figures in line with pre-release access rules for official statistics. Ministers and their staff have had early access to the figures.

We will comply with pre-release access and pre-announcement rules when publishing the report quarterly as official statistics, which we plan to do from this winter. The 2024 to 2025 financial year ARA will refer to the relevant official statistics and will not need to be accompanied by a separate performance report 

Decisions on data sources, analytical methods and assurance processes are agreed within the analytical team. This ensures decisions about the statistics are made by team members with appropriate professional capability, who can provide independent decision making and leadership.

Our quality assurance strategy sets out minimum standards for quality assurance for analytical products and their documentation, as well as roles and responsibilities across the organisation. This strategy is implemented and enforced by BDUK’s senior analysts.

Data is governed at BDUK by the Digital, Data and Technology team in line with GDPR and CDDO guidance on standards and best practice. Appropriate statistical disclosure rules are applied by analysts where confidential data is used.

BDUK’s annual performance report has been independently assured by the National Audit Office (NAO).

3. Quality 

We have released a quality and methodology document, which sets out the methodology used to create the report, as well as potential sources of error and uncertainty. Our reporting complies with the quality pillar of the Code of Practice for Statistics, though we will continue to improve the quality of our data sources by engaging with suppliers, and the thoroughness of our automated assurance.

4. Value

The purpose of BDUK’s annual performance report is to present the number of premises that have received gigabit-capable coverage as a result of BDUK intervention, in order for appropriate scrutiny of BDUK’s performance. We expect our primary users to be individuals interested in government subsidy for gigabit-capable coverage and in BDUK’s delivery progress.

BDUK welcomes user feedback on the usefulness and value of the report and requests for future improvements. 

Please contact us at [email protected] with any questions or suggestions for improvements.

We have made our reports accessible in line with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 framework for web accessibility. Analysts have contributed to the ARA to ensure that the performance reporting text in the ARA meets statistical standards for clarity.