The Office for Statistics Regulation wrote to Professor Sheila Bird about transparency around asymptomatic testing in secondary schools

31 March 2021 · Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation, Office for Statistics Regulation

The letter, dated 31 March 2021, replies to correspondence of 31 March 2021. The Office for Statistics Regulation published it as Ed Humpherson response to Professor Sheila Bird: Transparency around asymptomatic testing in secondary schools; 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

“We consider that the transparency and clarity of communication of the evidence could have been better.”

“We have reviewed the published evidence, guidance and statistics supporting the previous policy to not require a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test following a Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test in schools.”

“It is important that where decisions about COVID-19 are supported by statistics or management information, the underlying data should be made available.”

“We are currently performing a rapid review of these statistics against the Code of Practice for Statistics.”

From Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation, Office for Statistics Regulation, letter of 31 March 2021. Read the full letter.

Records the letter links to

• announced yesterday (gov.uk)
• Rapid Asymptomatic Testing

Correspondence

• The letter it answered: Professor Sheila Bird to Sir David Norgrove: Monitored Lateral Flow Tests (trice during 8-19 March 2021) for asymptomatic secondary pupils on their return to school (31 March 2021)

Receipt