The Office for National Statistics is asking users to say which outputs they value most, what barriers they face, and what changes would improve its annual Country and Regional Public Sector Finances publication.
The ONS drew attention to the consultation in a post on 23 September 2026; the consultation, which opened on 11 August 2026, closes on 11 October 2026. The publication at the centre of the review provides annual estimates of public sector revenue, expenditure and net fiscal balance for each UK country and each region of England — the figures show, in other words, how much is raised and spent in each area and what the resulting fiscal position looks like.
The most recent release, covering the financial year ending 2025, was published on 26 May 2026.
The consultation asks users how they use the statistics, which outputs and data they find most valuable, what barriers affect access or interpretation, and what improvements would help. It forms part of the ONS commitment to continuous improvement and compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.
It’s not the first time the ONS has canvassed opinion on these figures. A previous consultation, held in 2016, drew 16 responses — 12 of which were completed in full. The ONS went ahead with an annual publication after that exercise, with the first bulletin planned for 2017. No response target has been set for the 2026 round, and no changes to the existing statistics have been announced; the exercise is focused on user requirements rather than signalling any specific reform.
No published responses or draft decisions were identified in the available official material, so the likely outcome of this review remains unverified.
Key information
- The consultation closes on 11 October 2026
- Users can respond via the ONS website — search for “Country and Regional Public Sector Finances consultation”
- The consultation covers which outputs are most valuable, access barriers, and potential improvements
Source: @ONS