§ Sir Peter LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to involve the Office for National Statistics in the planning, production686W and presentation of statistical information relating to the performance of the police, probation and prison services. [115361]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Office for National Statistics (ONS) is represented on a committee established by my Department's Research, Development and Statistics Directorate which is co-ordinating a programme of reviews of the business requirements, scope and production of all regular Home Office Statistical series, including those relating to the performance of police, prison and probation services.
In addition, the ONS is involved in specific discussions on ethnic monitoring statistics for police, prison and probation services and has provided census and mid-year population estimates for a study comparing crime and related figures in two types of areas, namely Basic Command Units within police forces and the areas in which Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships operate.
For the future, the planning, production and presentation of those statistics that come within the scope of National Statistics will be subject to the arrangements described in "Building Trust in Statistics". It is envisaged that this will include the setting up of a new inter-departmental Crime and Justice working group that also involves representation from the ONS.