Dear Secretary of State

THE CITIZENSHIP SURVEY

I am writing about your recent decision to discontinue the Citizenship Survey, whose statistics the UK Statistics Authority thinks too valuable to be lost.

May I draw your attention to the enclosed report by the Authority, and ask you to look again at the case for the collection of statistical information which has been available from the Citizenship Survey for the last ten years?

The Authority fully recognises the severe pressures on Departments’ budgets at this time of fiscal deficit reduction. But, for the reasons explained in the report, we believe that insufficient account has been taken of the effect of discontinuing the Citizenship Survey, both on the Government’s own requirement for statistical data with which to monitor its policies, and on the statistical requirements of other bodies that cannot meet their needs by conducting their own surveys.

Your Department’s summary report of the consultation it carried out said that the “vast majority” of current users of the statistics expressed concerns about the Survey’s discontinuation, noting that these concerns were particularly strongly articulated by other government Departments, voluntary organisations and academics; and noting the use of the Survey’s data in providing evidence on the Big Society, extremism, cohesion and integration, fairness in the criminal justice system, discrimination, the impact of immigration, volunteering, well-being, and many other issues.

In her response to your Department’s consultation the National Statistician drew attention to the widespread use of the Survey data in government, and noted in particular the Survey’s relevance to the major work programme to measure national well-being announced on 25 November 2010; and to helping the public to assess what the Big Society means.

In our view, these requirements need to be addressed afresh, whether by a decision to retain the Citizenship Survey in some form, or by other, cheaper, options which may be available.

May I suggest that you invite Jil Matheson, the National Statistician, who is the Government’s and the Authority’s chief adviser on all statistical matters, in consultation with your Department’s own statisticians, to advise you on the most effective and cost efficient way of meeting the statistical requirements which your consultation revealed?

The Authority’s report on the Citizenship Survey will be published on our website. The Authority is also producing a report on the cancellation of the Place Survey and I will write to you again when that report is complete.

I am copying this letter to the Minister for the Cabinet Office and to Jil Matheson.

Yours sincerely

Sir Michael Scholar KCB