The Scottish Government

The purpose of the network is to

• Develop mutual understanding of statistical needs and opportunities between local authorities, public bodies and Scottish Government particularly in relation to single outcome agreements;
• Consider the best means for Scottish Government to share its analytical resources with other public bodies to assist the single outcome agreement process and build analytical capacity more widely;
• Consider issues across public bodies in data collection in order to take a strategic approach to harmonisation and efficient use of resources;
• Discuss how Scottish Government statistics are used by public bodies and how they might be improved to be of more benefit;
• Increase knowledge and understanding of functional issues (e.g. Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics, Sample Surveys, Official Statistics), cross cutting themes (e.g. equality statistics, geographical statistics) and methodological issues (e.g. measuring change, reporting on targets).

These aims are met through demand-led local workshops and short-lived working groups. Network members decide what workshops and groups would be of most value and how they should be run. Members contribute to the arrangements for workshops local to their area with support from Scottish Government.

If you are interested in joining the network please emailAnalysts.Network@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

Topic based issues are taken forward by the relevant ScotStat committee or working group. If you want to be kept informed of topic-specific developments, consultations and publications you need to register on the main section of ScotStat and indicate your 'areas of interest'.Click here to register or to update your areas of interest.

There are currently no workshops planned.

Are there subjects that you would like a workshop on?

Please email analysts.network@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or post a comment on the Discussion Forum

Workshops could be on any methodological or cross-cutting issue, such as presenting data, making the most of administrative data, understanding the Scottish Index of Multiiple Deprivation, Scottish neighbourhood Statistics, or anything else.

Contribution Analysis, 26th June 2009, Edinburgh

Measuring Change and Monitoring Targets: The Sequel, 9th June, Kirkcaldy

Measuring Change and Evaluating Progress, 8th June, Linlithgow

Statistics, 5th June, Orkney

An Introduction to Understanding Data and Setting Targets, 1st June, Edinburgh

Designing and Analysing Surveys, 18th May 2009, Aberdeen

Measuring Change and Monitoring Targets, 21st April 2009, Markinch

Survey Design and Analysis, 16th April 2009, Edinburgh City Council

Surveys, 2nd April 2009, Falkirk

Measuring Change and Monitoring Targets, 23rd March 2009, Stirling

Equalities Data Workshop, 25th February 2009, Edinburgh

Equalities Data Workshop, 17th February 2009, Inverness

Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics, 17th February 2009, Inverness

SRA Training

The Social Research Association (SRA) Scotland are organising the following training courses in the next few months
Qualitative Training courses with Liz Spencer

23 September - Introduction to Qualitative Research: Designing a Qualitative Study
24 September - Running effective focus groups
25 September - In-depth Interviewing
28 September - Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis
29 September - Interpreting and Writing Up your Qualitative Findings


Quantitative Training courses with Pam Campanelli

24 November 2009 Questionnaire Design
25 November 2009 Key Aspects of Survey Implementation
26 November 2009 Survey Sampling
27 November 2009 Basic Statistical Analysis

The cost of attending one day is £180 for SRA members and £260 for non-members. However, the daily rate reduces if you book to attend two days or more in a series (the qualitative courses being one series and the quantitative courses the other). Costs are as follows:-

2 days - £340 members/£420 non-members
3 days - £480 members/£560 non-members
4 days - £600 members/£680 non-members
5 days - £700 members/£780 non-members

For further details and booking form please contact Lindsay Adams (lindsay.adams@blueyonder.co.uk or telephone 0131 538 6247). Detail about SRA can be found at www.the-sra.org.uk

Scottish Government Training

A small number of places are available to Local Government or Public Body analysts to attend two Scottish Government seminars:

The first is on presenting data. The seminar will cover presenting data in text, tables, charts and maps. It's ideal for people who are new to statistics or who would like a refresher in some of the things to think about when presenting data.

Date: Tuesday 13th October

Time: 1.30 - 2.30

Place: Victoria Quay, Edinburgh

The second is on index numbers and time-series analysis. The seminar will discuss these topics in the context of the compilation of the Scottish Government Gross Domestic Product indices. Some familiarity with time-series data is necessary to get the most out of the afternoon. If you would like to attend please email

Date: 10th November

Time: 2.30 - 4.30

Place: St Andrews House, Edinburgh

If you would like to attend either of these seminars please email Analysts.Network@Scotland.gsi.gov.uk

If you would like to advertise any training courses to members of the ScotStat Network of Analysts please email Analysts.Network@Scotland.gsi.gov.uk

A working group on ANALYTICAL GUIDANCE is a) assessing the availability of guidance material on analytical methods and the suitability of that guidance for analysts in local government and other public bodies and b) identifying gaps in suitable guidance and arrange for those gaps to be filled.

The first meeting of the group was held on 14th May 2009:

Agenda / Discussion Document

List of guidance documents

Note of meeting

A working group on COLLECTING EQUALITIES DATA is being established and members are sought. There are a set of equalities questions being developed for use in postal and CAPI assisted surveys and this group will consider how to collect equivalent information in different settings. The group, which will have representation from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission as well as the Scottish Government Social Justice Analysis group, will produce guidance for practitioners on when and how to appropriately ask for equalities information from service users.

If you are interested in joining this group either as a core or correspondence member please email analysts.network@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

The Local Outcome Indicators Project is being lead by the Society of Local Authority Chief Exectives (SOLACE). The aim is to improve the quality and robustness of indicators used for tracking progress of SOAs.

Click here to see the Project Initiation Document.

The project is being overseen by a Project Board, chaired by David Hume from SOLACE, and the work is being taken forward by a co-ordination group. Both the project board and the co-ordination group are made up of representatives from local authorities, other public bodies, and Scottish Government.

The first phase of the project was the production of nine discussion papers, one for each of the policy themes outlined in the Project Initian Document, and a set of criteria for indicators.

The discussion papers were produced by the co-ordination group but do not necessarily represent the views of all members of the co-ordination group or any particular organisation. The papers are intended to form the basis of discussion around the availability and suitability of indicators for use in Single Outcome Agreements. These first versions should be understood as drafts that are open to all to help develop. Click on the links below to see the papers:

1. Economic Outcome Indicators Discussion Paper: Version 1

2. Children and Young People Outcome Indicators Discussion Paper: Version 1

3. Health and Social Care Outcome Indicators Discussion Paper: Version 1

4. Inclusion and Equalities Outcome Indicators Discussion Paper: Version 1

5. Community Safety Outcome Indicators Discussion Paper: Version 1

6. Community Cohesion Outcome Indicators Discussion Paper: Version 1

7. Environment Outcome Indicators Discussion Paper: Version 1

8. Cultural Outcome Indicators Discussion Paper: Version 1

9. Public Service Outcome Indicators Discussion Paper: Version 1

The criteria for assessing the suitability of local outcome indicators can be seen here

The second phase of the project is consultation with all interested stakeholders across Scotland. There have been three consultation events, one of which was held for members of this network on 7th July 2009.

Click here to see the Programme

Click here to download the registration form

Click here to see the discussion questions for the breakout sessions

The following presentations were given at the event:

The Improving Local Indicators Project Presentation given by David Hume, Chair of the Project Board

Local Delivery Plans and HEAT Presented by Robert Williams from the Health Directorate, Scottish Government

The Long Term Strategy for Surveys Presentation given by Sara Grainger, Office of the Chief Statistician, Scottish Government

Consultation is continuing over the summer with various meetings and the opportunity to comment on the project's Community of Practice, which can be accessed here: http://www.communities.idea.gov.uk/reg/register.do

If you have any thoughts or comments in relation to the work of the Network, you can share them via our Discussion Forum

You can use this Forum to:

• comment on the remit of the network
• seek views or ideas of other network members on any cross-cutting statistical issue
• share your thoughts on network workshops that you have attended, are planning on attending, or would like to be arranged
• put forward your ideas for Working Groups
• request advice or guidance from other network members on any statistical issues

If you want to contact the Network Administrator directly without your comments appearing here, email analysts.network@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Single Outcome Agreements

This is the Scottish Government website containing information about, and links to, Single Outcome Agreements

Scotland Performs

This website sets out the National Performance Framework. Details of all the purpose targets, national outcomes and national indicators, including technical notes showing data sources and how performance is evaluated, can be found here.

Communities of Practice for Local Government: Analysis, Intelligence and Research ( AIR) - Scotland

AIR is an electronic community of Local Government analysts in Scotland. You will need to register the first time you visit the site

Improvement Service

The Improvement Service was set up to support improvement in the efficiency, quality and accountability of public services in Scotland through provision of advice and consultancy, project management and support for learning and sharing of knowledge.

Community Regeneration and tackling Poverty Learning Network

The Community Regeneration and Tackling Poverty Learning Network is a cross-Government initiative that supports Community Planning Partnerships and their partners to improve the way communities are regenerated and poverty is tackled throughout Scotland. The network gives practical help to organisations and individuals working at a local level.

Centre for Housing Market Analysis

The key remit of the CHMA is to provide national, central support to local authorities, and other key stakeholders, to aid the strategic planning of housing in Scotland.