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Part 1 U.K.The Statistics Board

Official statistics: introductoryU.K.

6Official statisticsU.K.

(1)In this Part “official statistics” means—

(a)statistics produced by—

(i)the Board,

(ii)a government department,

(iii)the Scottish Administration,

(iv)a Welsh ministerial authority,

(v)a Northern Ireland department, or

(vi)any other person acting on behalf of the Crown, and

(b)such other statistics as may be specified by order by—

(i)a Minister of the Crown,

(ii)the Scottish Ministers,

(iii)the Welsh Ministers, or

(iv)a Northern Ireland department.

(2)An order under subsection (1)(b) may in particular specify all, or a description of, the statistics produced or to be produced by a particular person or description of person.

(3)Before making an order under subsection (1)(b) an authority referred to in that provision must consult the Board.

(4)The Board must, at least once every financial year, publish a list of statistics which are at the time of publication official statistics by virtue of subsection (1)(b).

(5)In this Part “Welsh ministerial authority” means any of the following—

(a)the Welsh Ministers;

(b)the First Minister for Wales;

(c)the Counsel General to the Welsh Assembly Government.

Commencement Information

I1S. 6 in force at 1.12.2007 by S.I. 2007/3388, art. 2(a)

7ObjectiveU.K.

(1)In the exercise of its functions under sections 8 to 21 the Board is to have the objective of promoting and safeguarding the production and publication of official statistics that serve the public good.

(2)In subsection (1) the reference to serving the public good includes in particular—

(a)informing the public about social and economic matters, and

(b)assisting in the development and evaluation of public policy.

(3)The Board is accordingly, in the exercise of its functions under sections 8 to 21, to promote and safeguard—

(a)the quality of official statistics,

(b)good practice in relation to official statistics, and

(c)the comprehensiveness of official statistics.

(4)In this Part references to the quality of any official statistics includes—

(a)their impartiality, accuracy and relevance, and

(b)their coherence with other official statistics.

(5)In this Part references to good practice in relation to official statistics includes ensuring their accessibility.

Commencement Information

I2S. 7 in force at 1.12.2007 by S.I. 2007/3388, art. 2(a)