Written question asked by Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 7 October 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 October 2005. It was answered by Jane Kennedy (Labour) on Monday, 28 November 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

NHS Work Force Data

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations have been made to the Department by (a) the Royal Statistical Society and (b) the Statistics Commission on the presentation of NHS workforce data; and how the Department has responded.

Answer: Two representations have been made this year to the Department by the Royal Statistical Society and the Statistics Commission on the publication in March 2004 of an incorrect chart showing trends in the national health service's workforce. The Department responded to both representations, acknowledging that the chart was incorrect, and indicating that a correction had been published on the Department's website. The central message that the chart had intended to convey, increases in the workforce each year since 1997, was still correct.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 16938; 440 c279W;440 c279W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: NHS Staff Statistics Statistics Commission Royal Statistical Society
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk