The Audit Commission has released a set of standards that define the arrangements public bodies can put in place to improve the quality of data they use to manage and report their activities.

The voluntary guidelines were developed in the light of previous work in the police, health, youth offending and social care services, which highlighted the importance of data quality in assessing performance.

The commission said it had incorporated recognised good practice with information gained from wide consultation within the public sector. Audit Scotland, the Wales Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy have all endorsed the guidelines.

Steve Bundred, chief executive of the Audit Commission, said: 'Auditors recognise that service providers need reliable, accurate, timely and clear information to make judgements about the efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness of their services. Data quality is increasingly important and these voluntary standards have been put together to help organisations make often complex decisions about their priorities.They are not a rigid set of requirements but are intended to be used flexibly and proportionately, depending on local risks and circumstances.'

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