I have just read Tony Travers’ excellent opinion piece (‘Their days are numbered’, March 13–19). I agree that those of us who believe in ‘good, politically neutral statistics’ should support Karen Dunnell, the head of the Office for National Statistics.
Without accurate and timely statistics none of us can form a proper view of how public bodies at national and local level are performing — and the ability to do this will be even more important in the difficult times ahead.
Part of CIPFA’s reputation depends on the quality of its published statistics and I hope that the institute will support Karen Dunnell’s stance in seeking to produce accurate, timely and politically neutral statistics.
Rita Hale, London
