The Office for Statistics Regulation wrote to Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney about ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey ad hoc analysis

2 December 2020 · Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation, Office for Statistics Regulation

The letter, dated 2 December 2020, replies to correspondence of 2 December 2020. A reply dated 10 December 2020 is published alongside it. The Office for Statistics Regulation published it as Ed Humpherson response to Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney: ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey ad hoc analysis; it links to 2 official records. Below are 4 passages from the letter in the regulator's own words.

What the Office for Statistics Regulation wrote

“As you are aware, we published our response to Dr Sarah Rasmussen’s similar concerns about the ONS ad hoc analysis on 26 November.”

“We think that it is important to acknowledge the speed with which ONS is making analysis available, but it could have made some of its decisions clearer for those reading the bulletin.”

“We consider ONS’s COVID-19 Infection Survey to be the best available source of data on infection rates, and the recommended source for making comparisons between occupations.”

“However, we are pleased that DfE confirmed to us its intention to publish the teacher attendance data in early 2021, and that it will also publish local estimates of pupil absence from mid-December.”

From Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation, Office for Statistics Regulation, letter of 2 December 2020. Read the full letter.

Records the letter links to

• 6 November Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey bulletin
• statement (ons.gov.uk)

Correspondence

• The letter it answered: Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney to Ed Humpherson: ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey ad hoc analysis (2 December 2020)
• Published reply: Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney to Ed Humpherson: Department for Education COVID-19 school statistics (10 December 2020)

Related key figures

• Teachers in state-funded schools in England

Receipt