§ Dr. CableTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that for every National Statistics first release, the full list of Ministers and officials having pre-release access to the release or the associated briefing is made available, including(a) an electronic link for electronic versions of the release and (b) the length of pre-release access. [143375]
§ Ruth KellyI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 November 2003,Official Report, column 728W.
The list of Treasury Ministers and officials who have authorised pre-release access to National Statistics first releases is available on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) website. In addition, the Macroeconomic Statistics Service Level Agreement, drawn up between ONS and the Treasury in 1998, lists a further small 165W number of individuals in the Treasury who receive copies of the Treasury's internal briefing on these statistical releases before the publication of the data. Since 1998, this list has been updated to reflect changes to personnel and staff structures.
An updated list of those with authorised access to briefing in line with these procedures will be made available in due course.