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Media Integrity > Published by Will Straw, November 26th 2010 at 2:43 pm

UK Statistics Authority: “Serious deficiencies” in DWP use of statistics

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The Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, Sir Michael Scholar, has identified “serious deficiencies” in DWP’s use of statistics. The rebuke follows a series of corrections yesterday by Iain Duncan Smith to the use of statistics in a Parliamentary debate on housing reform.

Left Foot Forward has been documenting the misuse of statistics by Iain Duncan Smith, his deputy Chris Grayling, and officials in the Department for Work and Pensions for months. Today, Sir Michael Scholar has written to Patrick Casey of the Full Fact website in reply to a letter of concern about the use of secret briefings by the department aimed at select journalists.

Sir Michael Scholar writes:

“in the instance of the analysis of the number of people of working age who have never worked, neither this particular analysis nor the Press Release containing these statistics was made publicly available; and the source of the analysis (the Office for National Statistics’ Labour Force Survey) was not given. These were, in my view, serious deficiencies in DWP’s arrangements, and I have drawn their attention to this.”

In addition to the incident identified by Sir Michael, the DWP have issued secret briefings on housing benefit and erroneous briefings on the number of households affected by the new benefits cap.

Just yesterday, Iain Duncan Smith made three corrections to the record following a letter from Labour opponent, Douglas Alexander. His corrections concerned statistics on rents in the private housing sector where he “misled parliament“, the exaggeration of the level of discretionary housing payments, and over-stating increases in the housing benefit budget.

There remain outstanding concerns about the misuse of official figures on job vacancies and the number of net jobs that have gone to “people from overseas”.

UPDATE 27/11:

The Guardian are along in picking up this story today:

The head of the UK Statistics Authority has issued a public rebuke to welfare ministers over their use of official statistics, warning of “serious deficiencies” in the handling of unemployment data.

Sir Michael Scholar, the head of the authority, said that by failing to show the evidence for claims made by ministers, the government risked undermining public trust.

  • http://twitter.com/norock/status/8169112605827073 Simon HB

    RT @leftfootfwd: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics http://bit.ly/hg3qN5

  • http://twitter.com/debsalini/status/8169268092862464 Deborah Segalini

    RT @leftfootfwd: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/yorkierosie/status/8169828401553408 yorkierosie

    RT @leftfootfwd: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/edwardclarke/status/8170142659776512 Edward Clarke

    RT @leftfootfwd: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics http://bit.ly/hg3qN5

  • http://twitter.com/wdjstraw/status/8170575235129344 Will Straw

    A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/bevaniteellie/status/8170932233314304 Ellie Gellard

    RT @leftfootfwd UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics http://bit.ly/hg3qN5

  • http://twitter.com/campbellclaret/status/8171415194836992 Alastair Campbell

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/abdelrss/status/8171574322532352 Abdel

    RT @leftfootfwd: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics http://bit.ly/hg3qN5

  • http://twitter.com/westernshores/status/8171606350241792 Pen

    RT @leftfootfwd: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics http://bit.ly/hg3qN5

  • http://twitter.com/damienblake/status/8172036023128064 Damien Blake

    I absolutely love that the UK has an Independent Govt Stats 'Authority' http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/rosshaffenden/status/8172408624119811 Ross Haffenden

    RT @leftfootfwd: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics http://bit.ly/hg3qN5

  • http://twitter.com/peterward2008/status/8172454602084352 Peterward

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/yorkierosie/status/8172453742256128 yorkierosie

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/adamjlent/status/8172655798657024 Adam Lent

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/blalygamal/status/8172741400199168 Lynsey Black

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/spiller32/status/8172795133431809 Emma Poole

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/anubeon/status/8172985865207808 Lee Hyde

    RT @BevaniteEllie: RT @leftfootfwd UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics http://bit.ly/hg3qN5

  • http://twitter.com/westernshores/status/8173590251831296 Pen

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/andrewkenning/status/8174521316016129 Andrew Kenning

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/kateselwood1/status/8174787478163456 Kate Selwood

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/sarahditum/status/8175105943273472 Sarah Ditum

    RT @leftfootfwd: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics http://bit.ly/hg3qN5

  • http://twitter.com/vmrampulla/status/8175192501133313 Vincenzo Rampulla

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/realrossi/status/8176225495285760 michael rossi

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/marc15fortuna/status/8178369501855744 Marc Fortuna

    RT @leftfootfwd: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics http://bit.ly/hg3qN5

  • http://twitter.com/col_irrelevant/status/8178442155589632 Col_Irrelevant

    RT @leftfootfwd: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics http://bit.ly/hg3qN5

  • http://twitter.com/shamikdas/status/8180248621355008 Shamik Das

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/fluffydogmummy/status/8182216265830400 Rose

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • william

    Lies,damned lies,and statistics.Plus ca change.

  • http://twitter.com/tweetminster/status/8195077058854913 Tweetminster

    "UK Statistics Authority: 'Serious deficiencies' in DWP use of statistics" http://bit.ly/hDjquf – Left Foot Forward

  • http://twitter.com/yorkierosie/status/8202286601871360 yorkierosie

    RT @tweetminster: "UK Statistics Authority: 'Serious deficiencies' in DWP use of statistics" http://bit.ly/hDjquf – Left Foot Forward

  • http://twitter.com/rosarubicondior/status/8202415832563712 Rosa Rubicondior

    RT @tweetminster: "UK Statistics Authority: 'Serious deficiencies' in DWP use of statistics" http://bit.ly/hDjquf – Left Foot Forward

  • http://twitter.com/ladyroisin/status/8214778476494848 LadyRoisin

    RT @leftfootfwd: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics (we used to call it lying) http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/jeffmcw/status/8246380254470144 Jeff McWhinney

    Must've hit a sensitive spot its gone! RT @tweetminster: "UK Statistics 'Serious deficiencies' in DWP use of statistics"http://bit.ly/hDjquf

  • http://twitter.com/warrenraff/status/8246578053648384 warren

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/andy_s_64/status/8256745331761152 Andy S

    RT @tweetminster: "UK Statistics Authority: 'Serious deficiencies' in DWP use of statistics" http://bit.ly/hDjquf – Left Foot Forward

  • http://twitter.com/susiemichele/status/8274998636584961 Sue Hoyle

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • scandalousbill

    The most serious issue is as noted in the independent by Oliver Wright,

    “Iain Duncan Smith misled Parliament by passing off figures from a property comparison website owned by the Daily Mail as official government figures…In a parliamentary debate, the Work and Pensions Secretary claimed that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that private sector rents had fallen by 5 per cent last year. At the same time he claimed the amount local authorities paid to private landlords had risen by 3 per cent…But, in fact, the ONS does not collect such statistics and the figures he quoted came from the website findaproperty.com owned by Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers.”
    The fact that IDS mislead the house is serious. The resident trolls of this blog would have no hesitation to condemn the Blair/little Alister dossier issue a la Hutton Commission as misleading the house. I would like to see their defence regarding Mr Married into Money. The article by Rosanna Singler, also takes on more momentum when given the source of IDS so called “facts”. Who indeed runs the Tories and the Condemn coalition?

  • http://twitter.com/terryinbolton/status/8288232349376512 Terry Whalebone

    RT @leftfootfwd: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://twitter.com/paulstpancras/status/8309006418317312 paulstpancras

    UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics | Left Foot Forward
    http://bit.ly/e9nhoU

  • http://twitter.com/rosarubicondior/status/8309109115854848 Rosa Rubicondior

    RT @paulstpancras: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics | Left Foot Forward
    http://bit.ly/e9nhoU

  • http://twitter.com/yorkierosie/status/8310152402837504 yorkierosie

    RT @paulstpancras: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics | Left Foot Forward
    http://bit.ly/e9nhoU

  • http://twitter.com/cityplymunison/status/8311059836313600 Plymouth City UNISON

    @paulstpancras: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of stats: http://bit.ly/e9nhoU #cuts #oursociety #solidarity

  • http://twitter.com/timwhale/status/8343692788113408 Tim Whale

    RT @tweetminster: "UK Statistics Authority: 'Serious deficiencies' in DWP use of statistics" http://bit.ly/hDjquf – Left Foot Forward

  • http://twitter.com/hazico_jo/status/8344557590679552 Hazico_Jo

    RT @leftfootfwd: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://www.order-order.com Guido Fawkes

    I’ll give you this as a win, I was sceptical. Well done.

  • Imey

    can’t say i’m surprised by IDS in this regard.

    just wondered if Left Foot Forward was this critical of the numerous documented occasions that Gordon Brown and others have misrepresented statistics.

    Let’s not forget doctoring dossiers…

  • http://twitter.com/wdjstraw/status/8526398494867456 Will Straw

    The Guardian have picked up @leftfootfwd's story on IDS' department's rebuke by the Stats Authority http://bit.ly/fOmrUZ

  • http://twitter.com/bendygirl/status/8526764808605697 BendyGirl

    RT @wdjstraw: The Guardian have picked up @leftfootfwd's story on IDS' department's rebuke by the Stats Authority http://bit.ly/fOmrUZ

  • http://twitter.com/leni_lava/status/8527622858342400 leni lava

    RT @wdjstraw: The Guardian have picked up @leftfootfwd's story on IDS' department's rebuke by the Stats Authority http://bit.ly/fOmrUZ

  • http://twitter.com/snim2/status/8528323588128769 snim2

    RT @wdjstraw: The Guardian have picked up @leftfootfwd's story on IDS' department's rebuke by the Stats Authority http://bit.ly/fOmrUZ

  • NBeale

    Consider the differences between:
    a. The figures were right, the source should have been given.
    b. The figures were right, but the source wasn’t the one the Minister thought it was.
    c. The figures were completely bogus

    IDS (and his officials) fell foul on (a) and (b). The 45-minute claim and the dodgy dossier, are just two of the most prominent examples of (c). Spot the difference

  • http://twitter.com/actuary21c/status/8910702865547264 actuary21c

    RT @wdjstraw: A little bit whey, a little bit whoah: IDS' dept rebuked by UK Stats Authority for "serious deficiencies" http://bit.ly/gpktcL

  • http://sbml.wordpress.com SadButMadLad

    “Left Foot Forward has been documenting the misuse of statistics by Iain Duncan Smith, his deputy Chris Grayling, and officials in the Department for Work and Pensions for months.”

    But LFF didn’t think it worth while documenting the misuse of statistics by the Labour Government. The misuse of which was bigger and longer than that carried out by the coallition government.

    Governments always misuse statistics. It’s because they want to push their agendas even if the evidence doesn’t back it up.

    Its not the politicians who are the main ones at fault, its the civil servants. They are the ones who did it during Labour’s term and now are doing it under the Tory/Libdem government. Its endemic and in their blood.

  • http://twitter.com/simonbriscoe/status/8962892833492992 Simon Briscoe

    RT @wdjstraw: The Guardian have picked up @leftfootfwd's story on IDS' department's rebuke by the Stats Authority http://bit.ly/fOmrUZ

  • scandalousbill

    NBeale, You state:
    ““Consider the differences between:
    a. The figures were right, the source should have been given.
    b. The figures were right, but the source wasn’t the one the Minister thought it was.
    c. The figures were completely bogus”

    You also go on to say, “IDS (and his officials) fell foul on (a) and (b” You imply that they are not in violation of c).
    Patrick Casey from Fullfact.org’ writing about the correction put forward from IDS makes an interesting point.

    “The correction is welcome, even if the decision to still refer to the information as ‘national statistics’ seems curious. Records covering all areas of the country would of course be ‘national’ statistics, but it is also an official term defined by the ONS as “‘a subset of official statistics which have been certified by the UK Statistics Authority as compliant with its Code of Practice for Official Statistics” – something the figures from findaproperty, to our knowledge, are not”

    Unless you could supply a convincing argument that IDS and his officials, in their ministerial capacity, were totally ignorant with the above compliancy requirements, and further that this is to be considered as acceptable parliamentary practice, then it seems a very strong position can be maintained for their inclusion under your category c). At the very least it could indicate a purposed effort to mislead.
    Was this the difference you wished to spot?

  • http://twitter.com/npthinking/status/9286360431071232 Nick Panayotopoulos

    UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics | Left Foot Forward: http://bit.ly/hwHJL9

  • http://twitter.com/drzogilvie/status/9701380029685761 drzogilvie

    RT @leftfootfwd: UK Statistics Authority: "Serious deficiencies" in DWP use of statistics http://bit.ly/gpktcL #housingbenefit

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/12/ids-misleads-the-sun-on-out-of-work-benefits/ IDS misleads The Sun on out-of-work benefits | Left Foot Forward

    [...] statistics on Britain’s welfare bill. The latest embellishment in today’s Sun follows a rebuke from the Chair of the UK Statistics’ Authority last week on IDS’ department’s use of [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/12/ids-dodges-questions-on-dwp-statistics/ IDS dodges questions on DWP’s misuse of statistics | Left Foot Forward

    [...] recent weeks, the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority has written to your department hightlighting ‘serious deficiencies’ in DWP’s use of statistics; you were forced to correct the record three times in the House of [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/01/iain-duncan-smith-housing-benefit-statistics/ IDS is (st)at it again | Left Foot Forward

    [...] and was forced to correct the record. Meanwhile, the UK Statistics Augtority pointed to “serious deficiencies” in his department’s use of [...]

  • http://liberalconspiracy.org/2011/01/20/minister-apologises-to-church-over-benefit-fraud-claims/ Minister apologises over benefit fraud claims | Liberal Conspiracy

    [...] are also “serious deficiencies” in the way that the DWP uses [...]

  • http://politicalscrapbook.net/2011/01/dodgy-dwp-statistics-minister-inflates-affordable-housing-by-200/ Dodgy DWP statistics: minister inflates affordable housing by 200% | Political Scrapbook

    [...] example of dodgy figures comes after the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, Sir Michael Scholar, wrote to the department identifying “serious deficiencies” in their use of [...]

  • http://greatemancipator.com/2011/02/01/lies-damned-lies/ Lies, damned lies… « The Great E-mancipator

    [...] that another blog has recently been complaining about government misuse of statistics – Left Foot Forward, so this is an appropriate time to mention it. However, the coalitions predecessors were equally [...]

  • http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-housing-benefits-row-cant-afford-slip-ups/5590 The FactCheck Blog – FactCheck: Housing benefits row can’t afford slip ups

    [...] and Pensions Secretary’s efforts to calm fears over benefits cuts have been undermined by some “serious deficiencies” in his department’s use of [...]

  • http://liberalconspiracy.org/2011/02/10/ids-finally-admits-to-exaggerating-rhetoric-on-benefit-fraud/ IDS finally admits to exaggerating “rhetoric” on benefit fraud | Liberal Conspiracy

    [...] it has been repeatedly pointed out that the DWP itself frequently briefs newspapers with exaggerated statistics in order to push their [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/02/right-wing-press-wrong-on-incapacity-benefit-again/ Today’s Express, Mail, Sun and Telegraph all wrong on Incapacity Benefit | Left Foot Forward

    [...] reprimand from the Statistics Commissioner has led to some improvement in transparency in DWP’s handling of [...]