Statistics Mrs. May To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions in the last five years the publication date of statistics produced by her Department has been changed; what the (a) subject of the statistics, (b) (i) original and (ii) final date of publication and (c) reason for the delay was in each case; and who took the decision to delay the publication in each case. Mr. Ivan Lewis In accordance with the national statistics code of practice (2002), the statistics heads of profession in the Department of Health and The Information Centre for health and social care have final responsibility for determining, pre-announcing and, if necessary, altering the dates of publication of national statistics and other relevant statistics produced by their bodies. Any decision to change a pre-announced publication date will be based on a range of purely professional considerations such as the completeness of the underlying data, their fitness for purpose, the need for consistency and coherence, the need to promote widespread access and informed debate, or any earlier accidental or wrongful release. In reaching their decisions, the heads of profession will also take into consideration the detailed procedural guidance given in the national statistics protocol on release practices. Copies of the code and its 12 supporting protocols are available in the Library of the House, and are available at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/national_statistics/cop/default.asp The Department’s compliance statement with the code of practice (which currently covers The Information Centre)is available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Statistics/CodeOfPractice/fs/en There have been 11 occasions in 2006 when the statistics heads of profession in the Department of Health and The Information Centre have changed a pre-announced publication date. Records for previous years are not readily to hand and could be accessed only by incurring disproportionate cost. The details for 2006 are as follows: 1. Cancelled Operations, England: quarter ending December 2005 (non-national statistics published by DH) Original publication date: February 2006 Final publication date: 3 March 2006 Reason: The February month was announced in error. Who took decision: DH statistics communications manager in consultation with lead statistician. 2. Statistics on Patient Journeys: Hospital outpatient activity in 2003-04 and 2004-05—first report and quality assessment of experimental data from patient level record systems (non-national statistics published by The Information Centre) Original publication date: February 2006 Final publication date: 31 July 2006 Reason: external operational issues resulting from the impact of Hemel Hempstead fire on HES resources and systems. Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician and colleagues in statistical governance. 3. NHS Staff 1995 to 2005 (non-national statistics published by The Information Centre) Original publication date: March 2006 Final publication date: 24 April 2006 Reason: operational issues. Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician and colleagues in statistical governance. Correspondence on Statistics Commission website: http://www.statscom.org.uk/C_1021.aspx 4. Sight Tests Volume and Workforce Survey 2005-06 (non-national statistics published by The Information Centre) Original publication date: March 2006 and delayed again from 27 July 2006 Final publication date: 24 October 2006 Reason: delayed from March for operational reasons and delayed from July for technical reasons. Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician and colleagues in statistical governance. 5. Ambulance Services, England 2005-06 (national statistics published by The Information Centre) Original publication date: 15 June 2006 Final publication date: 14 August 2006 Reason: Concerns about data quality that subsequently resulted in a full DH audit of ambulance trusts. Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician, colleagues in statistical governance and also the DH head of profession. Correspondence on Statistics Commission website: http://www.statscom.org.uk/C_1032.aspx and http://www.statscom. org.uk/C_1030.aspx 6. NHS Contraceptive Services, England: 2005-06 (national statistics published by The Information Centre) Original publication date: September 2006 Final publication date: 24 October 2006 Reason: operational reasons. Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician and colleagues in statistical governance. 7. Report of Hospital Prescribing 2005 (non-national statistics published by The Information Centre) Original publication date: 28 September 2006 (and delayed again from 31 October) Final publication date: 29 November 2006 Reason: operational issues. Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician and colleagues in statistical governance. Correspondence on Statistics Commission website: http://www.statscom.org.uk/C_1043.aspx 8. Cervical Screening Programme 2005-06 (national statistics published by the Information Centre) Original publication date: October 2006 Final publication date: 20 December 2006 Reason: external data supply issues. Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician and colleagues in statistical governance. Correspondence on Statistics Commission website: http.//www.statscom.org.uk/C_1043.aspx 9. Guardianship under the Mental Health Act 1983, England (national statistics published by the Information Centre) Original publication date: 31 October 2006 Final publication date: 20 December 2006 Reason: operational issues. Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician and colleagues in statistical governance. 10. Waiting Times for suspected cancer patients: quarter ending 30 September 2006 (non-national statistics published by DH) Original publication date: 1 December 2006 Final publication date: 29 November 2006 Reason: To allow latest data to be accessible to all attendees of cross-party House of Commons conference on cancer, to promote informed debate. Who took decision: DH head of profession in consultation with senior DH analytical, policy, communication and private office colleagues. 11. NHS Inpatient and Outpatient Waiting Times figures: 30 November 2006 (non- national statistics published by DH) Original publication date: 29 December 2006 Final publication date: 5 January 2007 Reason: The 29 December.2006 date was announced in error as a result of miscalculation of the formula used to publish monthly waiting data. Correction was made as soon as the error was realised—three months before publication. Who took decision: DH statistics communications manager in consultation with lead statistician.