I am grateful to my hon. Friend for generously giving way, particularly in the circumstances of her approaching her denouement. Clearly, there is an important distinction between the technical quality of statistics and the question whether they are duly representative. I did not have the privilege and the salivating experience of serving on the Standing Committee, so I hope that my hon. Friend will understand my ignorance on this point. What if, to put it in simple terms, the National Statistician has a particular view about what ought to make up the basket of items that constitute the basis of the retail prices index, and the Chancellor or the Prime Minister takes a different view? Will we get to know that the National Statistician has a view? Will it be in the public domain? Can we debate the issue and hold Ministers to account on the matter?
Statistics and Registration Service Bill
Proceeding contribution from
John Bercow
(Conservative)
in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 13 March 2007.
It occurred during Debate on bills on Statistics and Registration Service Bill.
About this proceeding contribution
Reference
458 c167 Session
2006-07Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamberSubjects
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