The Government claim that they have achieved their election pledge of
creating an independent statistical service. But they keep quiet about
this claim - presumably because it is so difficult to substantiate.
I asked my local Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate about LibDem
policy. Give below are the main points of his reply.
Ray Thomas
35 Passmore, Tinkers Bridge, Milton Keynes MK6 3DY
Email: [log in to unmask]
Tel/Fax 01908 679081
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The Liberal Democrats would like to see the Government Statistical Service
made independent, answerable to parliament rather than government. It
should be closer in operating model to the National Audit Office, which we
would wish to see become responsible for more services (i.e. OFSTED).
The primary actions of a national statistical office should be:
1. To gather information deemed of value to the nation. This will
either be of an entire population, or a sample of an entire population. In
the latter case the sampling techniques they use should be appropriate to
guarantee any usage of the raw data.
2. The data should be held subject to the DPA and other legislation,
but available in appropriate format as per the FOI.
3. In clearly defined areas (unemployment, average salary, average
house price, etc), the data should be subjected to appropriate tests, which
guarantee the legitimacy of the conclusions. Furthermore, these conclusions
should be presented, by an NSO, in language which is consistent with the
tests and assumptions carried out (e.g. not in absolute terms to suit the
political needs of any political party).
(from Neil Stuart, Liberal Democrat PPC, Milton Keynes South West)
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