The Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Statistics (and of Straight Statistics) has written to the Prime Minister backing calls for reform made by Sir Michael Scholar (pictured), Chair of the UK Statistics Authority.

Lord Lipsey’s letter says that the APPG strongly endorses the points made by Sir Michael, which are:

• An enhanced role for the National Statistician in departmental discussions about statistical staff;
•  Consultation with the UK Statistics Authority on decisions on statistical spending plans;
•  A three-hour limit on pre-release access to statistics combined with a one-hour voluntary   restraint on political announcements relating to statistical releases.

The proposals were made by Sir Michael in a letter to David Cameron on May 12. His letter is attached below. At its meeting on June 14 the APPG discussed the approach taken by Sir Michael and agreed that it was the most likely to achieve improvements in UK statistics without the need for new legislation.