Allsopp Review - Final Report

Christopher Allsopp’s Final Report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Governor of the Bank of England and the National Statistician on his independent Review of Statistics for Economic Policymaking is published today.

Chancellor Gordon Brown said:

“I greatly welcome the Report’s review of the coverage and quality of economic statistics in the context of the changing structure of the UK economy, and its recommendations.

“Together with the First Report, it makes a significant contribution to the discussion of regional and national economic statistics for policy making. I would like to thank both you and your team for delivering a comprehensive examination of the wide range of issues.”

The Chancellor asked Christopher Allsopp in February 2003 to undertake a review of statistics for economic policymaking, examining the information needed to support the Government’s key regional policy objectives, and whether official economic statistics have properly reflected the changing economic structure of the UK.

The Review Team began its work in June 2003, and published its First Report on 10 December 2003.

Notes for editors

1. The Chancellor of the Exchequer asked Christopher Allsopp to undertake a review of the statistical requirements for monetary and wider economic policymaking on 27 February 2003 (HMT press release 29/03).

2. The interim and final reviews respond to the Chancellor’s request of 27 February 2003 that he:

"deliver an assessment to the Chancellor, the Governor of the Bank of England and the National Statistician, with a first report by the 2003 Pre-Budget Report, on the following:

- the regional information and statistical framework needed to support the Government’s key objective of promoting economic growth in all regions and reducing the persistent gap in growth rates between the regions;

- whether the changing economic structure of the UK is being properly reflected in the nature, frequency and timeliness of official economic statistics.”

3. Mr Allsopp’s Final Report, ‘Review of Statistics for Economic Policymaking - Final Report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Governor of the Bank of England and the National Statistician’, is accessible on this website. Printed copies are available from the Treasury Public Enquiry Unit on 020 7270 4558.

4. The Final Report considers in detail whether official statistics properly reflect the changing economic structure of the UK, and makes further recommendations to improve the to improve the coverage and quality of the economic statistics. It also revisits the regional and institutional recommendations from the First Report in the light of responses the Report sought on these issues.

5. Media enquiries should be addressed to Charles Keseru in the Treasury press office on 020 7270 5188.

6. Non-media enquiries should be addressed to Michael Williams in the Allsopp Review Team on 020 7270 5214.

7. This press release and other Treasury publications and information are available on the Treasury website at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk If you would like Treasury press releases to be sent to you automatically by e-mail you can subscribe to this service from the press release site on the website.