January 29, 2003, Wednesday London Edition 1
Firing blanks at Prescott OBSERVER COLUMN
Financial Times (London) (184 words)
John Prescott must be confused. The deputy prime minister is being sent
documents by councils containing charts and tables deliberately left blank.
But it is no reflection on his reading ability.
It stems from the row between several councils and the Office for National
Statistics over the latest census figures. Places such as Manchester - and
Kensington and Westminster in London - reckon their population headcount was
way too low. At stake is a huge reduction in their Whitehall funding.
The ONS has had meetings with aggrieved councillors - and even showed them
some detailed numbers from the census. Alas, the statisticians have banned
the town hall brigade from passing on the "confidential" figures to
Prescott.
One council chief described the ban as "bizarre" and "unjustifiable" while
another moaned: "Debate is being stifled. The numbers will even stay within
government."
Oddly, the ONS says it will hand over the secret numbers if Prescott asks
for them. He'd better hurry. Prescott's department is expected to issue
final figures on local authority grants later this week.
Copyright 2003 The Financial Times Limited; Financial Times (London);
January 29, 2003, Wednesday London Edition 1;
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