Role and relationships with government and politicians - discussant Stephen Penneck President, International Association

1. Role and relationships with government and politicians - discussant Stephen Penneck President, International Association for Official Statistics ISI/Kostat/KSS Conference ‘Expertise Builds Capacity Daejeon, Korea, 14-15 November 2012

2. About me • Stephen Penneck, born 1951 in the UK • Educated Southampton and Birmingham Universities • Career in UK government statistics 1972 to 2012, early career in economic statistics • Director of Statistics, Department of Trade and Industry • Head of National Accounts, Deputy Director of Statistical Policy, Director of Sources, Director of Methodology in ONS • Secondment to Australian Bureau of Statistics 2002 • Director General, Office for National Statistics, 2009-2012 • President International Association for Official Statistics 2011-13

3. Comments on Dennis Trewin’s presentation • Defines the role as funder/ user/ legislator • Examples of good and bad practice • Draws an important distinction between professional and budgetary independence • Statistical Commissions • International agencies

4. Other points • Decentralised system • Problems can be more acute for statisticians working in analytical units in policy departments • Benefit of having a Government Statistician with a recognised role for professional standards across government • Advantages in nominating a senior statistician in each department as part of a national statistical network • Relationship management is a personal thing • Even between major institutions it depends on how well you know your opposite number so you can pick up the phone when it matters