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Home Office

Answer

Sir Peter Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to involve the Office for National Statistics in the planning, production and presentation of statistical information relating to the performance of the police, probation and prison services. [115361] Mr. Charles Clarke: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is represented on a committee established by my Department's Research, Development and Statistics Directorate which is co-ordinating a programme of reviews of the business requirements, scope and production of all regular Home Office Statistical series, including those relating to the performance of police, prison and probation services. In addition, the ONS is involved in specific discussions on ethnic monitoring statistics for police, prison and probation services and has provided census and mid-year population estimates for a study comparing crime and related figures in two types of areas, namely Basic Command Units within police forces and the areas in which Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships operate. For the future, the planning, production and presentation of those statistics that come within the scope of National Statistics will be subject to the arrangements described in "Building Trust in Statistics". It is envisaged that this will include the setting up of a new inter- departmental Crime and Justice working group that also involves representation from the ONS.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

346 c687-8W;346 c685-6W; 115361

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Home Office Police Prisons Probation Office for National Statistics Statistics Standards