Commentary on Sections and Schedules Part 1: the Statistics Board Section 22 Statistical services
101.This section allows the Board to supply statistical services to any person and details the kind of services that may be provided. This power is intended to allow the Board to provide the range of services that the ONS previously provided. For example, the Board will be able to provide information, advice and technical assistance to outside bodies, as ONS has done, including to statistical agencies in other countries.
102.The Board may also undertake quality assessment of statistics produced by organisations outside the scope of the Act, in a manner akin to those it carries out in relation to National Statistics. Those bodies’ statistics could not be designated as National Statistics, but the Board could if it wished make public its views on the quality of those statistics. The Board may also undertake statistical surveys and analyses on behalf of others, as ONS did with its ‘Omnibus’ Survey.