The Office for Statistics Regulation wrote to Michael O’Connor about HMRC statistics on migrants and tax credits

20 July 2016 · Ed Humpherson, Head of Profession, Office for Statistics Regulation

The letter is dated 20 July 2016. The Office for Statistics Regulation published it as HMRC statistics on migrants and tax credits. Below are 4 passages from the letter in the regulator's own words.

What the Office for Statistics Regulation wrote

“However we are encouraged at the attempts that have been made to explore questions around taxes and benefits relating to EEA nationals and are reassured that further work on migration statistics has been recognised as necessary by statistics’ producers, as evidenced by the ‘next steps’ section of the May 2016 publication by ONS “Note on the difference between National Insurance number registrations and the estimate of long-term international migration: 2016”8.”

“In this context, we remain concerned about the repeated issues identified around equality of access to data on a topic of considerable public interest.”

“Our consistent view, therefore, has been that public debate should be informed by statistics that are openly available to all, are supported by appropriate information about methods and quality, and paint as comprehensive a picture as possible.”

“We feel this would be very welcome and helpful in improving the public value of statistics on an important topic.”

From Ed Humpherson, Head of Profession, Office for Statistics Regulation, letter of 20 July 2016. Read the full letter.

Related key figures

• UK net migration

Receipt