Comments on: Openness and transparency in statistical releases http://www.libdemvoice.org/openness-and-transparency-in-statistical-releases-9445.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:36:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ned http://www.libdemvoice.org/openness-and-transparency-in-statistical-releases-9445.html#comment-75268 Ned Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:03:14 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=9445#comment-75268 Agreed that it's a worthy move. But mightn't it turn out as follows? "Simultaneous release of statistics will mean the debate is shaped by <strike>the first party to make a compelling analysis that</strike> the media <strike>want to run with</strike>, rather than the party in charge." Agreed that it’s a worthy move. But mightn’t it turn out as follows?

“Simultaneous release of statistics will mean the debate is shaped by the first party to make a compelling analysis that the media want to run with, rather than the party in charge.”

]]> By: David Heigham http://www.libdemvoice.org/openness-and-transparency-in-statistical-releases-9445.html#comment-75208 David Heigham Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:39:42 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=9445#comment-75208 If Ministers attempt to spin statistics, they often get into the same sort of mess as Jaqui Smith. That sort of mess is politically costly. It builds distrust in the whole Government in power. The reaction of commenators and electors is not distrust of official figures as such: it is distrust of figures produced by that particuar Government. I cannot recall any set of Ministers gaining real advantage by spinning the statistics. So why do they all insist on advance notice of the numbers? I think that it is because they and their civil servants (I was one) become paranoiac about being hit by unpleasant surprises of any kind. That may be understandable, but it justfies neither holding the statisticians' best estimates away from the public gaze for even 24 hours, nor trying to seek party advantge out of using extracts from the statisticians' unfinished work. Sir Michael Scholar is right, and must be supported . When Lord Moser was the boss Government Staistician, he once had to threaten resignation to stop Ministers meddling in the release of statistics. I hope Sir Michael will not have to do the same. If Ministers attempt to spin statistics, they often get into the same sort of mess as Jaqui Smith. That sort of mess is politically costly. It builds distrust in the whole Government in power. The reaction of commenators and electors is not distrust of official figures as such: it is distrust of figures produced by that particuar Government.

I cannot recall any set of Ministers gaining real advantage by spinning the statistics. So why do they all insist on advance notice of the numbers? I think that it is because they and their civil servants (I was one) become paranoiac about being hit by unpleasant surprises of any kind. That may be understandable, but it justfies neither holding the statisticians’ best estimates away from the public gaze for even 24 hours, nor trying to seek party advantge out of using extracts from the statisticians’ unfinished work.

Sir Michael Scholar is right, and must be supported . When Lord Moser was the boss Government Staistician, he once had to threaten resignation to stop Ministers meddling in the release of statistics. I hope Sir Michael will not have to do the same.

]]>