Statistics and Registration Service Bill

These amendments relate to the board's duties to prepare reports. The reports under Clause 25 are reports primarily to Parliament and, where relevant, the devolved legislatures, although of course the reports published under this clause will also be published and made widely available. The reports are particularly important given Parliament’s central accountability role, and should be one of the main mechanisms by which Parliament might hold the statistical system to account. The annual report under Clause 25 should include the board’s forward work plans, including that of the executive office of the National Statistician and—as with the annual reports produced by all departments—the board’s audited annual accounts. Although we strongly hope that Parliament will play an active scrutiny role throughout the year, and not just once a year at the point of the publication of the board’s annual report, the annual reporting system will help Parliament to assess whether the board is effectively and efficiently discharging its duties. Reports under Clause 25 will allow the board to inform Parliament about: the advice and guidance it has provided to others, including Ministers of the Crown and Ministers in the devolved Administrations, under other duties and powers it has in the Bill; the response it has received from those to whom it has provided that advice; and its views on the adequacy of the response where appropriate. Amendments Nos. 118 and 119 would put an explicit requirement on the board to lay its reports beforeboth Houses of Parliament. This is unnecessary.Section 1(1) of the Laying of Documents before Parliament (Interpretation) Act 1948 already provides that a reference in any Act to the laying of any instrument, report, account or other document before Parliament is to be construed as a reference to the laying of the document before each House of Parliament, unless the contrary intention is stipulated. The reference to Parliament in Clause 26 therefore will ensure that reports will be laid before each House, without the need for further elaboration. I hope that the noble Lord is reassured by that answer.