Downing Street Says » Office of National Statistics

Asked if the Prime Minister thought that there was anything sinister about the way the Office of National Statistics (ONS) released its figures, the Prime Minister s Spokesman (PMS) said that Phil Woolas had set out his reasons for writing to the Fabian Society very clearly during his interview on the Today programme interview where he responded to an allegation that it was the Government that had chosen to publish the figures. There was nothing further to add to what Phil Woolas had already said.

Put that it was extraordinary for a Minister to say that it was sinister for the ONS to have published statistics about migrant workers in Britain, the PMS said that Phil Woolas had explained that the Government entirely supported the independence of the ONS and had set the framework for it to be independent. The point he had been raising in particular was that the timing of the publication of the statistics and decisions on whether or not they were topical could have had a political bearing on what was a very sensitive debate.

Put that it was important for people to have black and white facts, the PMS said that the Government was strongly in favour of a debate on the basis of the full facts. Phil Woolas was making the point that the timing of the release of the figures and the nature of the headline was something that we were questioning.

Asked what the headline was, the PMS said that it was that one in nine UK residents was born abroad.

Asked if the Prime Minister thought it was wise to use the word sinister and if it was appropriate to intervene in the publication of statistics, the PMS said that it was important to remember that Phil Woolas s letter was a reply to an allegation from the Fabian Society. The letter covered the reasons for raising this with the ONS at the time and there was nothing further to add to that.

Put that Downing Street shared Phil Woolas s concerns, the PMS said that Phil Woolas had set out his reasons for why he felt it was important to respond to the accusation from the Fabian Society, and to point out the sensitivity involved with statistics concerning immigration and the care that needed to be taken in their presentation.

Asked if Downing Street had any problem with Phil Woolas s language, the PMS said that Phil Woolas chose his own words and it was right that he did so.

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» Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Office of National Statistics

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