Statistics and Registration Service Bill

Before the noble Lord, Lord Newby, decides what to do with his amendment, I ask the Minister whether he agrees with AmendmentNo. 47 that, "““The board shall have responsibility to monitor and assess the performance of the National Statistician””." In my remarks I said that that is an important element of the board's functions. How do we put that alongside Clause 28 which says that the National Statistician is the chief adviser to the board? It is difficult to see how we can put those two points together, although I strongly support the notion that we should write into the Bill the fact that the board is there to oversee, to monitor and to assess the performance of the National Statistician.