Statistics and Registration Service Bill

Does my hon. Friend agree that cynicism about Government statistics is not new? Alan Clark recalled in his ““Diaries”” his view that the only useful purpose of the Department of Employment was to meet once a month to fiddle the employment and unemployment figures, and that it was probably the biggest and most disreputable massage parlour in the kingdom. We should look to the responsibilities of not just one Government but all Governments and give credit to the Labour Government for their great work in restoring the independence of Government statistics.