Written question asked by Baroness May of Maidenhead (Conservative) on Monday, 18 December 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 January 2007. It was answered by Hilary Benn (Labour) on Thursday, 18 January 2007 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Statistics

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the process is for deciding the date of publication of statistics prepared by or relating to the Department; and who is involved in that process.

Answer: The National Statistics Code of Practice (2002)—which serves as a model for all public sector statistical work—established the principle that ““final responsibility for the content, format and timing of release of national statistics”” rests with the Head of Profession for statistics in each department. In reaching their decisions, Heads of Profession 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 can also be accessed using the following address:"http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/national_statistics/cop/default.asp"

Secondary information