§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to establish the new independent national statistical service; and if he will make a statement on the degree and nature of the independence that is proposed. [72025]
§ Ms Hewitt[holding answer 22 February 1999]: The Government produced a Green Paper "Statistics: A Matter of Trust" last year which provided options as to how best they might seek to enhance the integrity, both actual and perceived, of official statistics. They will be bringing forward their plans in this area as soon as they are finalised.