There is to be a body corporate to be known as the Statistics Board (in this Part called “the Board”).

In Gaelic the Board is to be known as Am Bòrd an Staitistig.

In Welsh the Board is to be known as Y Bwrdd Ystadegau.

The Board is to exercise its functions on behalf of the Crown.

Accordingly, the property, rights and liabilities of the Board are property, rights and liabilities of the Crown.

The Board is to consist of executive and non-executive members.

Before appointing any person under subsection (2)(b) the Minister for the Cabinet Office must consult the chairman.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office may, after consulting the chairman, designate one of the non-executive members appointed under subsection (2)(b) as deputy chairman.

A person may not be both a non-executive member of the Board and an employee of the Board.

A non-executive member is to hold and vacate office in accordance with the terms and conditions of his appointment, subject as follows.

A non-executive member may resign at any time by notice in writing to the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

A person who has ceased to be a non-executive member is eligible for re-appointment (on any number of occasions).

The Board is to have such other employees as it may appoint.

The persons appointed under subsection (4) are to be employed on the terms and conditions of their appointment.

The Board may only appoint persons under subsection (4) with the approval of the Minister for the Civil Service as to numbers and terms and conditions of employment.

Service as an employee of the Board is service in the civil service of the State.

The employees of the Board who are appointed members of the Board under section 3(6)(b) are to hold office as members in accordance with the terms and conditions of their appointment as members.

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.

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

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).

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.

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

The Board is to monitor the production and publication of official statistics.

The Board may publish its findings or any report under this section.

The Board may in particular for the purposes of this section give guidance and advice to persons responsible for official statistics.

The Board may publish guidance and advice given under this section.

The Board is to prepare, adopt and publish a Code of Practice for Statistics.

The Board may at any time revise the Code and, if it decides to do so, must publish the Code as revised.

The Code of Practice for Statistics under section 10 may not deal with any matter relating to the granting of pre-release access to official statistics.

The appropriate authority may for the purposes of the Code by order provide for rules and principles relating to the granting of pre-release access to official statistics.

The Code shall apply in relation to any official statistics as if it included any rules and principles provided for in relation to those statistics under subsection (2).

In this section “pre-release access”, in relation to official statistics, means access to the statistics in their final form prior to publication.

At the request of the appropriate authority the Board must, in accordance with this Part, assess and determine whether the Code of Practice for Statistics under section 10 has been complied with in relation to any official statistics.

If under subsection (1) the Board determines that the Code has been complied with, it must designate the statistics as “National Statistics”; but otherwise it must decline so to designate them.

A request under subsection (1) may not be withdrawn.

The person responsible for any official statistics in relation to which an assessment is being made under subsection (1) must provide the Board with such information about the statistics as it may reasonably require.

The Board must publish the results of any assessment under subsection (1).

The Board may in exercising its functions under subsection (1) take into account information or advice received from any person.

For the purposes of this Part, any official statistics designated as National Statistics before the commencement of this section shall be regarded as having been so designated under this section.

The person producing any official statistics which are designated under section 12 as National Statistics must ensure that the Code of Practice for Statistics under section 10 continues to be complied with in relation to the statistics.

Failure to comply with subsection (1) in relation to any statistics means that the designation of the statistics as National Statistics may not be confirmed under section 14 (but no action shall lie in relation to any such failure).

The Board must, in accordance with this Part, assess and determine whether the Code of Practice for Statistics under section 10 continues to be complied with in relation to statistics already designated as National Statistics under section 12.

If under subsection (1) the Board determines that the Code continues to be complied with in relation to any statistics already designated as National Statistics under section 12, it must confirm their designation as National Statistics; but otherwise it must cancel their designation.

The person responsible for any official statistics in respect of which an assessment is being made under subsection (1) must provide the Board with such information about the statistics as it may reasonably require.

The Board may in exercising its functions under subsection (1) take into account information or advice received from any person.

The Board must publish the results of any assessment under subsection (1).

The designation of any statistics as National Statistics may not be cancelled except pursuant to a determination under subsection (1).

The Board must prepare and publish a programme for the assessment and re-assessment of statistics under sections 12(1) and 14(1).

The Board may at any time revise the programme and, if it decides to do so, must publish the programme as revised.

Where the appropriate authority is a Minister of the Crown, the Board must lay a copy of its notification under subsection (1) before Parliament.

A statement under subsection (3)(a) must include a timetable for making the request.

A statement under subsection (3)(b) must give reasons for not making the request.

In this section “appropriate authority” has the same meaning as in section 12(1).

The Board may at any time revise the statement under subsection (1) and, if it decides to do so, must publish the statement as revised.

During the interim period the Board is to maintain the existing Code.

The Board may at any time during the interim period revise the existing Code and, if it decides to do so, must publish that Code as revised.

The Board may not under subsection (3) make any revision relating to pre-release access to official statistics (within the meaning of section 11).

Sections 11(2) to (7), 12 and 14 apply during the interim period in relation to the existing Code as they apply in relation to the Code under section 10.

The Board may itself produce and publish statistics relating to any matter relating to the United Kingdom or any part of it.

The Board may at any time publish information or give advice on statistics produced under subsection (1).

The Board may not without the consent of the Scottish Ministers produce and publish Scottish devolved statistics.

The Board may not without the consent of a Welsh ministerial authority produce and publish Welsh devolved statistics.

The Board may not without the consent of the appropriate Northern Ireland department produce and publish Northern Ireland devolved statistics.

Before making any change to the coverage or the basic calculation of the retail prices index, the Board must consult the Bank of England as to whether the change constitutes a fundamental change in the index which would be materially detrimental to the interests of the holders of relevant index-linked gilt-edged securities.

If the Bank of England considers that the change constitutes a fundamental change in the index which would be materially detrimental to the interests of the holders of relevant index-linked gilt-edged securities, the Board may not make the change without the consent of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

In this section —

• “index-linked gilt-edged securities” means securities issued under section 12 of the National Loans Act 1968 (c. 13) the amount of the payments under which is determined wholly or partly by reference to the retail prices index;

• “relevant index-linked gilt-edged securities” means index-linked gilt-edged securities issued before the commencement of this section subject to a prospectus containing provision relating to early redemption in the event of a change to the retail prices index;

• “retail prices index” means the United Kingdom General Index of Retail Prices.

The Board may provide statistical services to any person in any place within or outside the United Kingdom.

A Minister of the Crown may by order delegate to the Board any of his functions relating to the production of statistics.

A Welsh ministerial authority may by order delegate to the Board any of the authority’s functions relating to the production of statistics.

A Northern Ireland department may by order delegate to the Board any of its functions relating to the production of statistics.

An order under this section may include consequential or incidental provision (including provision amending any enactment).

The functions of the Registrar General for England and Wales under the enactments specified in subsection (2) are transferred to the Board.

Schedule 1 (which makes consequential and supplementary provision relating to the transfer of functions under subsection (1)) has effect.

The Board may do anything which it thinks necessary or expedient for the purpose of, or in connection with, the exercise of its functions.

Anything required to be published by the Board may be published by it in such manner as it thinks fit.

The Board may at any time produce a report about any matter relating to the exercise of its functions.

Where the Board lays a report under this section it must publish it as soon as possible thereafter.

The Board must exercise its functions efficiently and cost-effectively.

The Board must seek to minimise the burdens (including financial burdens) it imposes on other persons.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office may give the Board such directions as he considers appropriate for the purpose of implementing any Community obligation.

A direction under this section must be in writing.

A direction under this section must be published by the authority which gave it in such manner as that authority considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing it to the attention of persons likely to be affected by it.

If the Board fails to comply with any direction given to it under this section, the authority which gave the direction may give effect to it, and for that purpose may exercise any function of the Board.

But the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers and the Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland may only give effect to a direction under subsection (12) with the consent of the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

The Board must have regard to the advice of the National Statistician on those matters.

Where the Board publishes a statement under subsection (3), it must as soon as possible thereafter lay a copy before Parliament.

The National Statistician is also to be the chief executive of the Board.

The National Statistician may, subject as follows, exercise any of the functions of the Board (including functions of establishing committees under section 35 and delegating functions to such committees).

In the event of a vacancy in the office of National Statistician, his functions under this section and section 32 may be exercised by such one of the other executive members of the Board as the Board may direct.

For the purposes of subsection (1) the National Statistician may delegate any function of the Board referred to in that subsection to any other member of the executive office.

The delegation of a function by the National Statistician under subsection (3) does not prevent him from exercising the function himself.

The Head of Assessment is to be the Board’s principal adviser on the exercise of its functions under sections 12(1) and 14(1).

The Board must have regard to the advice of the Head of Assessment in the exercise of those functions.

The National Statistician may not take part in any assessment or determination of the Board under section 12(1) or 14(1) in relation to statistics produced by the Board.

The Board must seek to secure that, so far as practicable, employees who take part in the production of statistics should not be engaged in advising the Board on the exercise of its functions under sections 12(1) and 14(1) in relation to those statistics.

A committee of the Board established under subsection (1)(b) may include persons who are neither members nor employees of the Board.

A committee established under this section may establish one or more sub-committees.

Any committee of the Board established under section 35(1)(a) may delegate any function exercisable by it to any of its sub-committees.

The delegation of a function by the Board or a committee of the Board under this section does not prevent the Board or committee from exercising the function.

A committee of the Board may regulate the proceedings (including quorum) of any of its sub-committees.

Any information obtained by the Board in relation to the exercise of any of its functions may be used by it in relation to the exercise of any of its other functions.

Subsection (1) does not apply to information obtained by the Board in relation to the exercise of its functions under sections 12(1) and 14(1).

Subsection (1) does not apply to information obtained by the Board in relation to the exercise of its functions under section 22, unless the person from whom the Board receives the information consents to its use as specified in that subsection.

Subsection (1) is subject to any enactment which restricts or prohibits the use or disclosure of information.

In this Part “personal information” means information which relates to and identifies a particular person (including a body corporate); but it does not include information about the internal administrative arrangements of the Board (whether relating to its members, employees or other persons).

For the purposes of subsection (4)(i), “approved researcher” means an individual to whom the Board has granted access, for the purposes of statistical research, to personal information held by it.

The Board is from time to time to publish criteria by reference to which it will determine whether to grant access as specified in subsection (5).

The Board may not grant access to an individual as specified in subsection (5) unless he has first signed a declaration, in such form as the Board may determine, that he understands the requirements of this section.

In subsection (1) “public authority” has the same meaning as in the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

In subsection (3) “Scottish public authority” has the same meaning as in the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

The Registrar General for England and Wales may, for the purpose of the exercise by the Board of any function, disclose to the Board any information to which this section applies.

In subsection (2)(b) “birth” has the same meaning as in the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953.

The Board may, for the purpose of assisting the Secretary of State or the Welsh Ministers in the performance of his or their functions in relation to the health service, disclose to him or them any information referred to in subsection (2)(a) to (c) which is received by the Board under this section.

Any information disclosed under subsection (4) may be disclosed in such form as the Board considers appropriate for the purpose specified in that subsection.

In subsection (4) “health service” has the same meaning as in the National Health Service Act 2006 (c. 41).

The Secretary of State or other public authority may, subject to this section, disclose patient registration information to the Board.

In subsection (1) “patient registration information” means information about the persons who are or have been registered in any place in England or Wales as persons to whom primary medical services are or may be provided.

The information disclosed under this section may not include any information about the health or condition of, or the care or treatment provided to, any person.

Information disclosed under this section may only be used by the Board for the production of population statistics.

In the application of section 39 to the disclosure by a member, employee or committee member of the Board of information received by the Board under this section, paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section only have effect if the disclosure is made with the consent of the Secretary of State.

In subsection (2) “primary medical services” means services which are primary medical services for the purposes of the National Health Service Act 2006 or the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (c. 42).

The Welsh Ministers may, subject to this section, disclose patient registration information to the Board.

In subsection (1) “patient registration information” means information about the persons who are or have been registered in any place in Wales as persons to whom primary medical services are or may be provided.

Information disclosed under this section may not include any information about the health or condition of, or the care or treatment provided to, any person.

Information disclosed under this section may only be used by the Board for the production of population statistics.

In the application of section 39 to the disclosure by a member, employee or committee member of the Board of information received by the Board under this section, paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section only have effect if the disclosure is made with the consent of the Welsh Ministers.

In subsection (2) “primary medical services” means services which are primary medical services for the purposes of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (c. 42).

The Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs or an officer of Revenue and Customs may, subject to this section, disclose to the Board any information held by the Revenue and Customs in connection with any function of the Revenue and Customs.

Information may only be disclosed under subsection (1) if the Commissioners are satisfied that the Board requires it to enable it to exercise one or more of its functions, other than its function under section 22 (statistical services).

Information disclosed under subsection (1) may only be used by the Board for the purposes of any one or more of its functions, other than its function under section 22.

Information disclosed under subsection (1) may not be disclosed by the Board to any person except with the consent of the Commissioners.

Subsection (1) does not authorise the disclosure of personal information, other than personal information relating to the import or export of goods to or from the United Kingdom.

Regulations under subsection (1) may only authorise disclosure to enable the Board to carry out one or more of its functions, other than its function under section 22 (statistical services).

The Board may only use information received under regulations under subsection (1) for the purposes for which disclosure is authorised under subsection (2).

In the application of section 39 to personal information which has been disclosed to the Board under regulations under subsection (1), paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section do not apply (subject to any provision made under subsection (7)(b) below).

Subsection (8)(c) does not apply in relation to regulations authorising disclosure by a public authority where the Minister for the Cabinet Office is the relevant Minister in relation to the public authority.

For the purposes of subsection (10), the Minister for the Cabinet Office is the relevant Minister in relation to such public authorities, or public authorities of such description, as the Minister may by order prescribe.

The Treasury must consult the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs before giving its consent under subsection (8)(b).

Regulations under subsection (1) may only authorise disclosure to enable the Board to carry out one or more of its functions, other than its function under section 22 (statistical services).

The Board may only use information received under regulations under subsection (1) for the purposes for which disclosure is authorised under subsection (2).

In the application of section 39 to personal information which has been disclosed to the Board under regulations under subsection (1), paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section do not apply (subject to any provision made under subsection (6)(b) below).

The Scottish Ministers may only make regulations under subsection (1) with the consent of the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

Regulations under subsection (1) may only authorise disclosure to enable the Board to carry out one or more of its functions, other than its function under section 22 (statistical services).

The Board may only use information received under regulations under subsection (1) for the purposes for which disclosure is authorised under subsection (2).

In the application of section 39 to personal information which has been disclosed to the Board under regulations under subsection (1), paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section do not apply (subject to any provision made under subsection (6)(b) below).

A Northern Ireland department may only make regulations under subsection (1) with the consent of the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

Subject to this section, the Minister for the Cabinet Office may make regulations for the purpose of authorising the Board to use information received from a public authority where the use would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law or an Act passed before this Act.

Regulations under subsection (1) may only authorise use to enable the Board to carry out one or more of its functions, other than its function under section 22 (statistical services).

Where the Minister for the Cabinet Office is the relevant Minister in relation to a public authority, subsection (4)(b) and the reference in subsection (5) to the person consenting to the regulations do not apply.

For the purposes of subsection (6), the Minister for the Cabinet Office is the relevant Minister in relation to such public authorities, or public authorities of such description, as the Minister may by order prescribe.

The Treasury must consult the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs before giving its consent under subsection (4)(a).

Subject to this section, the Minister for the Cabinet Office may by regulations make provision for the purpose of authorising the Board to disclose information to a public authority where the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law or an Act passed before this Act.

Regulations under subsection (1) may only authorise disclosure for the purposes of any or all of the statistical functions of the public authority.

A public authority may only use information received under regulations under subsection (1) for the purposes for which disclosure is authorised under subsection (2).

In the application of section 39 to personal information which has been disclosed to a public authority under regulations under subsection (1), paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section do not apply (subject to any provision made under subsection (7)(b) below).

Subsection (8)(b) and the reference in subsection (9) to the person consenting to the regulations do not apply in relation to regulations authorising disclosure to a public authority where the Minister for the Cabinet Office is the relevant Minister in relation to the public authority.

For the purposes of subsection (10), the Minister for the Cabinet Office is the relevant Minister in relation to such public authorities, or public authorities of such description, as the Minister may by order prescribe.

The Treasury must consult the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs before giving its consent under subsection (8)(a).

Subject to this section, the Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision for the purpose of authorising the Board to disclose information to a Scottish public authority where the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law or an Act passed before this Act.

Regulations under subsection (1) may only authorise disclosure for the purposes of any or all of the statistical functions of the Scottish public authority, so far as relating to matters which are not reserved matters.

A Scottish public authority may only use information received under regulations under subsection (1) for the purposes for which disclosure is authorised under subsection (2).

In the application of section 39 to personal information which has been disclosed to a Scottish public authority under regulations under subsection (1), paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section do not apply (subject to any provision made under subsection (6)(b) below).

The Scottish Ministers may only make regulations under subsection (1) with the consent of the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

Subject to this section, a Northern Ireland department may by regulations make provision for the purpose of authorising the Board to disclose information to a Northern Ireland public authority where the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law or an Act passed before this Act.

Regulations under subsection (1) may only authorise disclosure for the purposes of any or all of the statistical functions of the Northern Ireland public authority.

A Northern Ireland public authority may only use information received under regulations under subsection (1) for the purposes for which disclosure is authorised under subsection (2).

In the application of section 39 to personal information which has been disclosed to a Northern Ireland public authority under regulations under subsection (1), paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section do not apply (subject to any provision made under subsection (6)(b) below).

A Northern Ireland department may only make regulations under subsection (1) with the consent of the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

Subject to subsection (6), on commencement of this section the property, rights and liabilities of the Office for National Statistics and of the National Statistician shall by virtue of this section vest in the Board.

Anything done by, on behalf of or in relation to the Office for National Statistics or the National Statistician which has effect immediately before the commencement of this section shall continue to have effect as if done by, on behalf of or in relation to the Board.

Anything (including legal proceedings) which immediately before commencement of this section is in the process of being done by, on behalf of or in relation to the Office for National Statistics or the National Statistician may be continued by, on behalf of or in relation to the Board.

So far as is necessary or appropriate in consequence of the preceding provisions of this section, on and after commencement of this section a reference to the Office for National Statistics or the National Statistician in an agreement (whether written or not), instrument or other document shall be treated as a reference to the Board.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office may make a scheme or schemes identifying property, rights and liabilities of the Office for National Statistics or the National Statistician (or both) which shall not vest in the Board on commencement of this section but shall vest in the Registrar General for England and Wales or a Minister of the Crown (including the Minister for the Cabinet Office).

A scheme under subsection (6) may operate in relation to property, rights and liabilities as specified in subsection (2)(a), (b) and (c).

Where a scheme has been made under subsection (6), the Board and the Registrar General or the Minister of the Crown may agree in writing to modify the scheme (and any such modification shall have effect as from the date the original scheme came into effect).

In this section “the National Statistician” means the National Statistician who holds office immediately before the commencement of section 1.

On commencement of this section the property, rights and liabilities of the Registrar General for England and Wales held or incurred in relation to the functions transferred under section 25 (the “transferred functions”) shall by virtue of this section vest in the Board.

Anything done by, on behalf of or in relation to the Registrar General in respect of the transferred functions which has effect immediately before commencement of this section shall continue to have effect as if done by, on behalf of or in relation to the Board.

Anything (including legal proceedings) which immediately before commencement of this section is in the process of being done by, on behalf of or in relation to the Registrar General in respect of, or connected with, the transferred functions, may be continued by, on behalf of or in relation to the Board.

So far as is necessary or appropriate in consequence of the preceding provisions of this section, on and after commencement of this section a reference to the Registrar General in an agreement (whether written or not), instrument or other document shall be treated as a reference to the Board.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office may make a scheme or schemes transferring property, rights and liabilities from a Minister of the Crown to the Board and such transfer shall have effect in accordance with the terms of the scheme.

A scheme under subsection (1) may operate in relation to property, rights and liabilities as specified in section 56(2)(a), (b) and (c).

Where a scheme has been made under subsection (1), the Minister of the Crown and the Board may agree in writing to modify the scheme (and any such modification shall have effect as from the date the original scheme came into effect).

The services and facilities referred to in subsection (1) include in particular the making available of premises, computer systems and administrative services.

Schedule 3 (which makes amendments consequential on the conferral on the Board of functions previously exercised by the Office for National Statistics) has effect.

The expenditure of the Board is to be paid out of money provided by Parliament.

Sums paid to the Board (other than under subsection (1)) are to be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

The Board may with the approval of the Minister for the Cabinet Office make to or in respect of members of the Board, employees or committee members payments by way of, or in respect of, remuneration, pension, allowances or expenses.

The application of the seal of the Board is to be authenticated by the signature of a person authorised for that purpose by the Board (generally or specifically).

A document purporting to be duly executed under the seal of the Board or purporting to be signed on its behalf is to be received in evidence and taken, unless the contrary is proved, as so executed or signed.

The Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (c. 13) is amended in accordance with subsections (2) and (3).

In Schedule 2 (departments and authorities subject to investigation), at the appropriate place insert—

In the Notes to Schedule 2, after the paragraph relating to the Ministry of Defence insert—

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 (asp 11) is amended in accordance with subsections (5) and (6).

In section 7 (matters which may be investigated: restrictions), after subsection (6A) insert—

In schedule 2 (persons liable to investigation), after paragraph 91 (Security Industry Authority) insert—

A Minister of the Crown may not make an order under section 6(1)(b) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the order has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament.

A statutory instrument containing an order made by a Minister of the Crown under section 24 that includes consequential or incidental provision amending any relevant legislation is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

A statutory instrument containing an order made by the Minister for the Cabinet Office under section 47(11), 50(7) or 51(11) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

The Welsh Ministers may not make an order under section 6(1)(b) or 11 unless a draft of the instrument containing the order has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the National Assembly for Wales.

A statutory instrument containing an order made by a Welsh ministerial authority under section 24 that includes consequential or incidental provision amending any relevant legislation is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.

A statutory rule containing an order made by a Northern Ireland department under section 24 that includes consequential or incidental provision amending any relevant legislation is subject to negative resolution, within the meaning of section 41(6) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954.