The Office for Statistics Regulation wrote to Will Moy about Home Office Transparency

5 May 2023 · Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation, Office for Statistics Regulation

The letter, dated 5 May 2023, replies to correspondence of 27 March 2023. The Office for Statistics Regulation published it as Ed Humpherson to Will Moy: Home Office Transparency; it links to 4 official records. Below are 4 passages from the letter in the regulator's own words.

What the Office for Statistics Regulation wrote

“We share your disappointment that claims continue to be made by Ministers that cannot be verified from the Home Office’s published statistics.”

“As the regulator of official statistics, our priority is to work with statistics producers to embed best practice and influence positive change in the statistics system.”

“For example, the department has introduced new official statistics on irregular migration, published additional data in response to new issues regarding Albania, published an ad-hoc statistical release relating to the Illegal Immigration Bill, and has added additional breakdowns to other existing statistics to reflect policy changes.”

“While we welcome the positive developments at the official level, we remain concerned that the continued misuse of these data by Ministers may undermine public confidence in the statistical and analytical outputs of the department and of ministerial statements related to them.”

From Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation, Office for Statistics Regulation, letter of 5 May 2023. Read the full letter.

Records the letter links to

• official statistics on irregular migration
• additional data in response to new issues regarding Albania
• ad-hoc statistical release relating to the Illegal Immigration Bill
• additional breakdowns (gov.uk)

Correspondence

• The letter it answered: Will Moy to Ed Humpherson: Home Office Transparency (27 March 2023)

Receipt