Authority Diary - December 2008
Welcome to the December issue of Authority Diary, providing news and information about the work of the UK Statistics Authority each month. The Authority Board met on 19 December in London. The Board discussed the publication of the Census White Paper on 11 December, National Accounts modernisation, and the arrangements for the publication – in early January 2009 – of the new Code of Practice for Official Statistics, a report on the Code consultation exercise, and the Authority’s report on priorities for designation as National Statistics. The Board also discussed statistical first releases, the second Official Statistics Order, plans for the Authority’s 2008-09 annual report, the Authority’s forward agenda for 2009, and house price indices. The minutes and papers from the December Authority Board meeting will be published on the Authority website in due course. Minutes and papers of the November Board and previous meetings are published on the website on the About the Authority > Board and committee documentation pages.
Earlier this month the Authority received extensive media coverage after publication of Sir Michael Scholar’s letter to 10 Downing Street regarding the “premature, irregular, and selective release” of hospital admission statistics as part of a Government announcement concerning knife crime. In a letter to Sir Michael, the Permanent Secretary at No. 10, Jeremy Heywood, acknowledged that “insufficient attention” had been paid to the views of statisticians in deciding whether to publish these data. The correspondence between Sir Michael and Jeremy Heywood is available on the Authority’s website under Reports and Correspondence > Correspondence.
Sir Michael continued his programme of visits to meet statisticians in government departments this month. Sir Michael, accompanied by Karen Dunnell, the National Statistician, completed their visit to the Department for Communities and Local Government on 1 December when they met statisticians working in the department. Sir Michael and Karen visited the Department for Children, Schools and Families on 16 December, and met the DCSF Board, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, David Bell. Afterwards Sir Michael and Karen met the DCSF chief statistician, Malcolm Britton and his team of statisticians to discuss the work of the Authority, the production of departmental statistics and other relevant issues.
Finally, Sir Michael, Authority members and staff would like to extend our very best wishes for an enjoyable festive season and a Happy New Year.
If you have any questions about the work of the UK Statistics Authority, or have any comments or issues that you want to raise with us, email authority.enquiries@statistics.gov.uk or write to us at: Statistics House, Myddelton Street, London EC1R 1UW.
Next issue of Authority Diary: 16 January 2009
