The UK Statistics Authority wrote to Drew Hendry MP about Trade deal statistics

8 December 2022 · Sir Robert Chote, UK Statistics Authority

The letter, dated 8 December 2022, replies to correspondence of 4 November 2022. The UK Statistics Authority published it as Response from Sir Robert Chote to Drew Hendry MP – Trade deal statistics; it links to 2 official records. Below are 4 passages from the letter in the regulator's own words.

What the UK Statistics Authority wrote

“As regards the figure of £800 billion, we presume that this has been calculated from figures for UK trade by country published by the Office for National Statistics.”

“Under the principles of intelligent transparency, we would expect the infographic to include a source for the figure so that the public can verify the numbers, understand the definitions used and put the data into context.”

“We have also requested that the Party be more transparent about the context and assumptions that have been made to construct such statements and infographics.”

“We have spoken to the Conservative Party and asked that any future communications include a link or reference to the source of statistics.”

From Sir Robert Chote, UK Statistics Authority, letter of 8 December 2022. Read the full letter.

Records the letter links to

• UK trade by country published by the Office for National Statistics
• 67 listed by the Department for International Trade

Correspondence

• The letter it answered: Drew Hendry MP to Sir Robert Chote – Trade deal statistics (4 November 2022)

More on Drew Hendry.

Receipt