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Many have welcomed and enjoyed the growth in the availability of IT-supported statistical information that has characterised developments over the past two years since Len Cook took over as National Statistician. But the draft Protocol on Consultations indicates that progress in other areas has been negligible. The Code of Practice states: "Through the processes of consultation, the National Statistician will develop a view of how National Statistics can best provide a balanced, comprehensive picture of changing social and economic conditions ..." But the draft Protocol on Consultations covers only "users". The high sounding responsibilities given to the National Statistician are not echoed in the responsibilities of other ONS staff who are expected to be able to provide "a balanced, comprehensive picture of changing social and economic conditions" without public consultations. Does this mean that Len Cook's role has become that of Public Relations Officer for the Government Statistical Service ? All the high sounding responsibilities belong to the National Statistician. The NS has to defend everything in the public arena, echoing qualtiy assurances from his colleagues, but, it seems, without having effective control over what the rest of the ONS and GSS actually do? The meeting on Thursday at the RSS should provide some answers to such questions. The meeting is entitled public consultations in order to give opportunity to ask whether consultations limited to users will adequately support fulfilment of the National Statistictian's responsiblities. MEETING AT THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY Official Statistics Section, 1700 hrs Thursday 6th March 2003, at the RSS. Tea available at 1630 hrs. THE ONS PROTOCOL ON PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS Stephen Penneck (ONS), Barbara Buckley (Statistics Commission), Ian Maclean (Statistics Users Council), Deana Leadbeter (Health Statistics Users Group), Alison McFarlane (City University), Martin Weale (National Accounts Users Group), other representatives of user groups and members of the public. The ONS draft Protocol entitled User Consultation at <http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about_ns/consultations.asp> was published in January. Why is the Protocol addressed to users and not to the public? What difference will the Protocol make to the procedures followed in consultation exercises? The meeting aims to give representatives of users and other individuals to put their views.If you cannot attend but wish to contribute please contact the Secretary of the Official Statistics Committee: [log in to unmask] See http://www.rss.org.uk/about/direction.html for map of how to get there. ******************************************************