Further to Ray's message please note that you can also register for this
meeting by email to [log in to unmask]

Paul Gentry
Theme Manager, Meetings & Conferences
Royal Statistical Society
Direct Tel. (020) 7614 3918
Fax. (020) 7614 3905

Join the Royal Statistical Society today. For more details go to
http://www.rss.org.uk/membership/index.html


-----Original Message-----
From: RSS Social Statistics Section
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Thomas, Ray
Sent: 10 August 2005 20:48
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: LAST WORDS FROM LEN COOK

THE ATTRIBUTES OF AN INDEPENDENT STATISTICAL SERVICE


A meeting at 5 pm on Thursday 25th August at the Royal Statistical
Society,

Len Cook is leaving the UK on 30th August after five years in the top
job in statistics.  He was appointed from New Zealand to help fulfil the
Labour Party's 1997 election pledge to create an independent statistics
service.  During his five years at the top job Len Cook is said to have
ruled, as Registrar General, on the legality of Prince Charles wedding,
and, through classification of British Rail and road maintenance
expenditure statistics, to have been a significant influence on
transport and economic policy.  He says that that strong criticism of
statisticians is part of the British way of life, and criticism of
statistics is a way of criticising government.


So what are the attributes of an independent statistical service?


The meeting is open to all.  Tea will be available from 4 30 pm.  But
please notify on 0207 614 3910 that you are coming.

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