§ Ms BuckTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the official statistics published in the past five years by the Office for National Statistics which have been amended, stating the reasons in each case. [97197]
§ Ruth KellyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Ms Karen Buck dated 18 February 2003
As National statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on official statistics published by the Office for National Statistics.Official statistics are revised on a frequent and widespread basis, and for a variety of reasons including more complete and/or better source information, seasonal adjustment changes, rebasing and changes to the underlying administrative system. To catalogue every instance in the past five years would incur disproportionate costs.National Statistics policy on revisions will be made available n the Protocol on Revisions which will shortly be published for public consultation.