DWP warned over statistics leak that puts ‘trustworthiness’ in question
This Writer has been questioning the DWP’s trustworthiness for years.
It’s good to see the UK Statistics Authority calling it into question as well – on this occasion, due to the unauthorised sharing of new job statistics on a “social media network” belonging to the Department before they were officially published.
The matter was raised in a letter from the UKSA’s director general for regulation, Ed Humpherson, to Sir Robert Devereaux, permanent secretary of the DWP.
Although the figures only went out to 300 people, prior knowledge of any market can have serious consequences, and questions of corruption may arise from it.
Such incidents also harm public perception of how well a government department may be trusted.
Perhaps it is time such pre-release access ended. Let’s all have the same figures at the same time.
Here’s an excerpt from the letter:
An indication of the substance of Wednesday’s Labour Market Statistics release
was shared by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with up to 300 people, through a social media network ahead of the publication of the report by someone who is not
approved to have pre-release access to the statistics.The Authority is deeply concerned about the impact that breaches (and apparent breaches)
relating to the unauthorised, widespread sharing of statistics before their publication may
have on the trustworthiness of the UK’s official statistics system.I would welcome your assurance that you will review – and improve where necessary – the
processes relating to the handling of pre-release access within your department to ensure
that such an occurrence cannot and will not happen again.
Source: Letter from Ed Humpherson to Sir Robert Devereaux
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“…………have on the trustworthiness of the UK’s official statistics system”, too true, and yet another blatant posturing by the BBC tonight on ‘violence against MP’s’,
NOT WHY IS IT HAPPENING,
but what can be done about it!. The public have lost trust with the lies and evasion of all previously authoritative bodies, including the BBC who continue to address the effect, and never the cause. Little wonder that these ‘public servants’ are clamouring for police protection, what planet are they on?
I totally agree Mike. I would also like to see the end of all those “he/she will say” style releases of speeches, budget etc before the actual events.