HC Deb 12 June 1997 vol 295 cc562-3W
21. Mr. Bayley

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the methodology used by the Government for calculating the level of unemployment. [1606]

Mrs. Liddell

My hon. Friend's interest in methodology is well placed and shared by the Government and the Government have begun a process of consultation which reflects the Employment Select Committee's recommendations for more prominence to estimates for the labour force survey.

On 8 May the Office for National Statistics launched a process of consultation with users about the dissemination and presentation of labour market statistics. The Director of the Office for National Statistics is responsible for deciding the form, the coverage and timing of release of statistics by his office, which is committed to a wide-ranging consultation.

The consultation reflects the Employment Select Committee recommendation to give more prominence to estimates from the labour force survey.

The Government are committed to ensuring the widest possible acceptance of these statistics, and the ONS will make public the conclusions of the consultation.