To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many different sets of statistics are produced by the Government Statistical Service each year; and how many of these are designated as national statistics. (101657)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 4 December 2006:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many different sets of statistics are produced by the Government Statistical Service (GSS) each year; and how many of these are designated as National Statistics. (101657)

The current list of statistics produced by the Government Statistical Service, including those designated as National Statistics, can be found on the National Statistics website at:

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/ns ons/nsproducts/default.asp

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which statistics have been withdrawn from the National Statistics Series over the last five years; what the reason was in each case; and what process is followed to determine whether a statistic should be withdrawn from the National Statistics Series. (101658)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 4 December 2006:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking which statistics have been withdrawn from the National Statistics Series over the last five years; what the reason was in each case; and what process is followed to determine whether a statistic should be withdrawn from the National Statistics Series.

The initial scope of National Statistics was set out in an insert which accompanied the publication of the “Framework for National Statistics” in 2000.

A list of changes to the scope of National Statistics (additions and withdrawals) in each of the last five years can be found in the relevant National Statistics annual report available on the National Statistics website at:

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=1051

The reason for withdrawing a National Statistic usually falls into one of three main categories:

complete cessation—a decision to cease producing an output altogether will typically be driven by priority or resource considerations, although in many instances one output may simply be replaced by an alternative or better output.

temporary cessation—a decision to temporarily withdraw an output from the public domain will typically be driven by quality concerns or known errors.

change of designation—a decision to remove the National Statistics designation from an output even though it remains in the public domain will typically be driven by concerns about fitness for purpose or quality.

As set out in the “Framework for National Statistics” (section 4.1.7) ‘Departmental Ministers, including the Minister for ONS,’... ‘decide the scope of National Statistics and departmental statistical programmes and resources’.