The UK Statistics Authority wrote to Sir James Cleverly MP, Andrew Griffith MP and James Wild MP about changes to Business Rates

10 February 2026 · Penny Young, Deputy Chair, UK Statistics Authority

The letter, dated 10 February 2026, replies to correspondence of 8 January 2026. The UK Statistics Authority published it as Penny Young to Sir James Cleverly MP, Andrew Griffith MP and James Wild MP – changes to Business Rates; 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

“Our conclusion is that to support public understanding, statements should have been clearer as to whether they referred to changes to the tax rates (i.e. multiplier) specifically or the changes to business rates more broadly, as the tax paid as a result of the latter might increase despite the reduction of the multiplier.”

“We agree it would have been beneficial for involved Departments to present this fuller context proactively among their suite of post-Budget information to support understanding.”

“Taking these examples together, we agree that there were opportunities for improvements to be made to support understanding of the data and avoid the potential for people to be misled.”

“We have passed on our findings to HM Treasury and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure our expectations for transparent communication are met in future announcements involving statistics.”

From Penny Young, Deputy Chair, UK Statistics Authority, letter of 10 February 2026. Read the full letter.

Records the letter links to

• The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s speech
• HM Treasury Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Factsheet

Correspondence

• The letter it answered: Sir James Cleverly MP, Andrew Griffith MP and James Wild MP to Ed Humpherson – changes to Business Rates (8 January 2026)

More on James Cleverly and Andrew Griffith and James Wild.

Receipt