Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation, Office for Statistics Regulation writes to Iain Bell, Deputy National Statistician, Office for National Statistics.

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Dear Iain,

We have today published the findings of our compliance check looking at the transparency and communication of the recent International Passenger Survey (IPS) data collection mode changes, related publication delays and supporting quality information.

The report commends ONS on its approach in some areas as well as highlighting areas for improvement. I welcome your anticipation of some of the areas we identified in your letter of 15 June, as well as your wider plans to provide greater coherence to the travel and tourism statistics produced across the GSS.

We hope that the report’s findings offer useful insights for GSS producers looking to undertake statistical developments and ensure effective communications with their users throughout such transitions. I would also welcome your assurance that its findings and recommendations will be born in mind for future ONS development work.

As stated in the report, OSR plans to carry out a further compliance check of the IPS Overseas travel and tourism outputs in 2019, following the publication of the final 2018 data. This will be subsequent to ONS’s planned methodological work to ensure a consistent time series either side of the mode transition period.

I am copying this letter to John Pullinger, National Statistician and Jackie Orme, Head of Profession for Statistics at the department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Yours sincerely,

Ed Humpherson

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Related Links

International Passenger Survey compliance check report (October 2018)

Ed Humpherson to Guy Goodwin (October 2018)

Iain Bell to Ed Humpherson (June 2018)

Guy Goodwin to Ed Humpherson (June 2018)

Ed Humpherson to Guy Goodwin (June 2018)