Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007
There is to be a body corporate to be known as the Statistics Board (in this Part called “the Board”).
In Gaelic the Board is to be known as Am Bòrd an Staitistig.
In Welsh the Board is to be known as Y Bwrdd Ystadegau.
The Board is to exercise its functions on behalf of the Crown.
Accordingly, the property, rights and liabilities of the Board are property, rights and liabilities of the Crown.
The Board is to consist of executive and non-executive members.
The non-executive members are to be—
the chairman, appointed by Her Majesty, and
at least five other persons appointed by the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
Before appointing any person under subsection (2)(b) the Minister for the Cabinet Office must consult the chairman.
The persons appointed under subsection (2)(b) must include—
one person who is appointed by the Minister for the Cabinet Office after consulting the Scottish Ministers,
one person who is appointed by the Minister for the Cabinet Office after consulting the Welsh Ministers, and
one person who is appointed by the Minister for the Cabinet Office after consulting the Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland.
The Minister for the Cabinet Office may, after consulting the chairman, designate one of the non-executive members appointed under subsection (2)(b) as deputy chairman.
The executive members are to be—
the National Statistician (see section 5), and
two other employees of the Board, appointed by the non-executive members.
A person may not be both a non-executive member of the Board and an employee of the Board.
A non-executive member of the Board is to be appointed—
for at least one and no more than five years, and
on such other terms and conditions as the person making the appointment thinks fit.
A non-executive member is to hold and vacate office in accordance with the terms and conditions of his appointment, subject as follows.
A non-executive member may resign at any time by notice in writing to the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
The person appointing a non-executive member may dismiss him by notice in writing on the grounds that—
the member has been absent from meetings of the Board without permission of the Board for a period of more than three months,
the member is the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or an interim bankruptcy restrictions order, or a debt relief restrictions order or interim debt relief restrictions order under Schedule 4ZB of the Insolvency Act 1986,
the member has had his estate sequestrated in Scotland or, under Scots law, has made a composition or arrangement with, or granted a trust deed for, his creditors,
the member is unfit for office by reason of misconduct,
the member has failed to comply with the terms of his appointment, or
the member is otherwise unable, unfit or unwilling to perform his functions.
Where— the Board may pay him compensation of an amount approved by the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
a non-executive member ceases to be a member otherwise than on the expiry of his term of office, and
it appears to the Minister for the Cabinet Office that there are circumstances which make it right for him to receive compensation,
A person who has ceased to be a non-executive member is eligible for re-appointment (on any number of occasions).
The Board is to have—
an officer known as the National Statistician, and
an officer known as the Head of Assessment.
The National Statistician is to be—
appointed by Her Majesty, and
employed by the Board on the terms and conditions of his appointment (which may include provision relating to dismissal).
The Head of Assessment is to be—
appointed by the non-executive members of the Board, and
employed by the Board on the terms and conditions of his appointment.
The Board is to have such other employees as it may appoint.
The persons appointed under subsection (4) are to be employed on the terms and conditions of their appointment.
The Board may only appoint persons under subsection (4) with the approval of the Minister for the Civil Service as to numbers and terms and conditions of employment.
Service as an employee of the Board is service in the civil service of the State.
The employees of the Board who are appointed members of the Board under section 3(6)(b) are to hold office as members in accordance with the terms and conditions of their appointment as members.
In this Part “official statistics” means—
statistics produced by—
the Board,
a government department,
the Scottish Administration,
a Welsh ministerial authority,
a Northern Ireland department, or
any other person acting on behalf of the Crown, and
such other statistics as may be specified by order by—
a Minister of the Crown,
the Scottish Ministers,
the Welsh Ministers, or
a Northern Ireland department.
An order under subsection (1)(b) may in particular specify all, or a description of, the statistics produced or to be produced by a particular person or description of person.
Before making an order under subsection (1)(b) an authority referred to in that provision must consult the Board.
The Board must, at least once every financial year, publish a list of statistics which are at the time of publication official statistics by virtue of subsection (1)(b).
In this Part “Welsh ministerial authority” means any of the following—
the Welsh Ministers;
the First Minister for Wales;
the Counsel General to the Welsh Assembly Government.
In the exercise of its functions under sections 8 to 21 the Board is to have the objective of promoting and safeguarding the production and publication of official statistics that serve the public good.
In subsection (1) the reference to serving the public good includes in particular—
informing the public about social and economic matters, and
assisting in the development and evaluation of public policy.
The Board is accordingly, in the exercise of its functions under sections 8 to 21, to promote and safeguard—
the quality of official statistics,
good practice in relation to official statistics, and
the comprehensiveness of official statistics.
In this Part references to the quality of any official statistics includes—
their impartiality, accuracy and relevance, and
their coherence with other official statistics.
In this Part references to good practice in relation to official statistics includes ensuring their accessibility.
The Board is to monitor the production and publication of official statistics.
The Board may report any concerns it has about— to the person responsible for those statistics.
the quality of any official statistics,
good practice in relation to any official statistics, or
the comprehensiveness of any official statistics,
The Board may publish its findings or any report under this section.
The Board is to—
develop and maintain definitions, methodologies, classifications and standards for official statistics, and
promote their use in relation to official statistics.
The Board may in particular for the purposes of this section give guidance and advice to persons responsible for official statistics.
The Board may publish guidance and advice given under this section.
The Board is to prepare, adopt and publish a Code of Practice for Statistics.
The Board may at any time revise the Code and, if it decides to do so, must publish the Code as revised.
In preparing or revising the Code the Board must consult—
the Scottish Ministers,
the Welsh Ministers,
the Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland, and
such other persons as it thinks fit.
The Code of Practice for Statistics under section 10 may not deal with any matter relating to the granting of pre-release access to official statistics.
The appropriate authority may for the purposes of the Code by order provide for rules and principles relating to the granting of pre-release access to official statistics.
The Code shall apply in relation to any official statistics as if it included any rules and principles provided for in relation to those statistics under subsection (2).
The rules and principles which may be provided for under subsection (2) include rules and principles as to—
the circumstances in which, or descriptions of statistics in relation to which, pre-release access may or may not be granted;
the persons or descriptions of person to whom pre-release access may be granted;
the period, or maximum period, during which pre-release access may be so granted;
the conditions subject to which pre-release access may be so granted.
Those rules and principles may—
make different provision for different cases, and
allow for the exercise of discretion by persons responsible for official statistics.
In this section “appropriate authority” means—
the Minister for the Cabinet Office, except in a case falling within paragraphs (b) to (d);
the Scottish Ministers, in relation to official statistics that are wholly Scottish devolved statistics;
the Welsh Ministers, in relation to official statistics that are wholly Welsh devolved statistics;
the Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland, in relation to official statistics that are wholly Northern Ireland devolved statistics.
Subsections (2) to (5) are subject to section 11A.
Before making an order under subsection (2) the appropriate authority must consult—
the other persons referred to in subsection (6)(a) to (d), and
the Board.
In this section “pre-release access”, in relation to official statistics, means access to the statistics in their final form prior to publication.
At the request of the appropriate authority the Board must, in accordance with this Part, assess and determine whether the Code of Practice for Statistics under section 10 has been complied with in relation to any official statistics.
If under subsection (1) the Board determines that the Code has been complied with, it must designate the statistics as “National Statistics”; but otherwise it must decline so to designate them.
A request under subsection (1) may not be withdrawn.
The person responsible for any official statistics in relation to which an assessment is being made under subsection (1) must provide the Board with such information about the statistics as it may reasonably require.
The Board must publish the results of any assessment under subsection (1).
The Board may in exercising its functions under subsection (1) take into account information or advice received from any person.
In subsection (1) the “appropriate authority” in relation to any official statistics is a Minister of the Crown, subject to the following—
the National Statistician is the appropriate authority in relation to statistics produced by the Board;
the Scottish Ministers are the appropriate authority in relation to official statistics not produced by the Board which are Scottish devolved statistics;
the Welsh Ministers are the appropriate authority in relation to official statistics not produced by the Board which are Welsh devolved statistics;
any Northern Ireland department is the appropriate authority in relation to official statistics not produced by the Board which are Northern Ireland devolved statistics.
For the purposes of this Part, any official statistics designated as National Statistics before the commencement of this section shall be regarded as having been so designated under this section.
Rules and principles provided for by the Scottish Ministers by order made under section 11(2) on or after the day on which this section comes into force may not provide for the granting of pre-release access to official statistics on Scotland's gross domestic product or Scottish retail sales (whether by volume or value).
Subsection (1) does not apply to provision made under section 11(2) to give effect to a recommendation contained in the report laid before the Scottish Parliament in accordance with section 3 of the Pre-release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Act 2021.
Rules and principles provided for by the Scottish Ministers by order under section 11(2) may not allow pre-release access to economic statistics for a period exceeding 1 working day before publication.
In subsection (3), “economic statistics”—
includes official statistics concerning devolved and local taxes, local government finance, labour productivity, exports, capital and revenue outturn budget estimates, government expenditure and revenue, oil production and gas production; but
does not include statistics produced by the Scottish Ministers in the exercise of a function which is exercisable by them pursuant to an Order made under section 63(1)(a) of the Scotland Act 1998.
Subsections (1) and (3) do not prevent the Scottish Ministers from providing in rules and principles made by order under section 11— in respect of cases where the condition set out in subsection (6) is met.
for the granting of pre-release access to official statistics on Scotland's gross domestic product or Scottish retail sales (whether by volume or value);
that there should be no maximum period for pre-release access to official statistics,
That condition is that the person responsible considers that pre-release access is necessary to ensure, where a publication or other material is being prepared by or on behalf of any public body or office-holder for publication at the same time or shortly after the publication of the official statistics, that any statistics contained in that publication or material are correct or that the publication or material is otherwise properly informed by those official statistics.
Nothing in this section prevents the Scottish Ministers from providing in rules and principles made by order under section 11 for the release of official statistics in their final form to any individual directly responsible for their printing and production for use solely for those purposes.
The person producing any official statistics which are designated under section 12 as National Statistics must ensure that the Code of Practice for Statistics under section 10 continues to be complied with in relation to the statistics.
Failure to comply with subsection (1) in relation to any statistics means that the designation of the statistics as National Statistics may not be confirmed under section 14 (but no action shall lie in relation to any such failure).
The Board must, in accordance with this Part, assess and determine whether the Code of Practice for Statistics under section 10 continues to be complied with in relation to statistics already designated as National Statistics under section 12.
If under subsection (1) the Board determines that the Code continues to be complied with in relation to any statistics already designated as National Statistics under section 12, it must confirm their designation as National Statistics; but otherwise it must cancel their designation.
The person responsible for any official statistics in respect of which an assessment is being made under subsection (1) must provide the Board with such information about the statistics as it may reasonably require.
The Board may in exercising its functions under subsection (1) take into account information or advice received from any person.
The Board must publish the results of any assessment under subsection (1).
The designation of any statistics as National Statistics may not be cancelled except pursuant to a determination under subsection (1).
The Board must prepare and publish a programme for the assessment and re-assessment of statistics under sections 12(1) and 14(1).
The Board may at any time revise the programme and, if it decides to do so, must publish the programme as revised.
Where in the case of any official statistics other than statistics produced by the Board— the Board must notify the appropriate authority accordingly.
the appropriate authority has not under section 12(1) requested the Board to assess and determine whether the Code of Practice for Statistics has been complied with, and
the Board is of the view that it would be appropriate for it to do so,
Where the appropriate authority is a Minister of the Crown, the Board must lay a copy of its notification under subsection (1) before Parliament.
A Minister of the Crown, on receiving notification under subsection (1), must provide the Board with— and must lay a copy of the statement before Parliament.
a statement that he intends to make a request under section 12(1) in relation to the statistics, or
a statement that he does not intend to make such a request,
A statement under subsection (3)(a) must include a timetable for making the request.
A statement under subsection (3)(b) must give reasons for not making the request.
Where the National Statistician determines not to make a request under section 12(1) in relation to any official statistics produced by the Board, he must—
make a statement that he does not intend to make such a request, giving reasons, and
lay a copy of the statement before Parliament.
In this section “appropriate authority” has the same meaning as in section 12(1).
The Board must prepare and publish a statement of— in exercising its functions under sections 12(1) and 14(1).
the principles to which it will have regard, and
the procedures which it will adopt,
The Board may at any time revise the statement under subsection (1) and, if it decides to do so, must publish the statement as revised.
In preparing or revising the statement under subsection (1) the Board must consult—
the Scottish Ministers,
the Welsh Ministers,
the Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland, and
such other persons as it thinks fit.
The Board must, at least once every financial year, publish a list of statistics which are at the time of publication designated as National Statistics under this Part.
In this section—
“the interim period” means the period after the Board is established under section 1 but before the Board has adopted and published a Code under section 10(1), and
“the existing Code” means the National Statistics Code of Practice existing at the time of the commencement of this section.
During the interim period the Board is to maintain the existing Code.
The Board may at any time during the interim period revise the existing Code and, if it decides to do so, must publish that Code as revised.
The Board may not under subsection (3) make any revision relating to pre-release access to official statistics (within the meaning of section 11).
Sections 11(2) to (7), 12 and 14 apply during the interim period in relation to the existing Code as they apply in relation to the Code under section 10.
The Board may itself produce and publish statistics relating to any matter relating to the United Kingdom or any part of it.
The Board may at any time publish information or give advice on statistics produced under subsection (1).
The Board may not without the consent of the Scottish Ministers produce and publish Scottish devolved statistics.
The Board may not without the consent of a Welsh ministerial authority produce and publish Welsh devolved statistics.
The Board may not without the consent of the appropriate Northern Ireland department produce and publish Northern Ireland devolved statistics.
The Board must under section 20—
compile and maintain the retail prices index, and
publish it every month.
Before making any change to the coverage or the basic calculation of the retail prices index, the Board must consult the Bank of England as to whether the change constitutes a fundamental change in the index which would be materially detrimental to the interests of the holders of relevant index-linked gilt-edged securities.
If the Bank of England considers that the change constitutes a fundamental change in the index which would be materially detrimental to the interests of the holders of relevant index-linked gilt-edged securities, the Board may not make the change without the consent of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
In this section —
“Scottish public authority” (except in section 40(3)) has the same meaning as in the Scotland Act 1998;
In the Population (Statistics) Act 1938, in section 4(2)(b)—
after “by the” insert “ Statistics Board or ”;
for “his” substitute “ its or his ”.
In the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, in section 14(6)(a), for “the Registrar General for England and Wales” substitute “ the Statistics Board ”.
relate only or mainly to transferred matters;
are exercisable only or mainly in or as regards Northern Ireland, and
“retail prices index” means the United Kingdom General Index of Retail Prices.
“reserved matters” has the same meaning as in the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46);
In the Registration Service Act 1953, in section 19—
for “Registrar General”substitute “ Statistics Board ”;
for “the Minister”, in all three places, substitute “ the Minister for the Cabinet Office ”.
Section 58 of the Finance Act 1969 (disclosure for statistical purposes of information relating to employment and VAT) is amended as follows. In subsection (1)— In subsection (2)— In subsection (4)— In subsection (7), for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”.
Section 91 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 (disclosure for statistical purposes of information relating to VAT) is amended as follows. In subsection (1)— In subsections (2) and (5), for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”.
In Schedule 1 to the Mobile Homes Act 1983, in paragraph 29, in the definition of “retail prices index”—
for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”;
for “that Office” substitute “ the Board ”.
In Schedule 7 to the Local Government Finance Act 1988, in paragraph 5(8)—
for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”;
for “that Office” substitute “ the Board ”.
In section 3 of the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993, in subsection (6), in the definition of “retail prices index”—
in paragraph (a), for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”;
in paragraph (b), for “that Office” substitute “ the Board ”.
In section 34 of the Employment Relations Act 1999, in subsection (5)—
in paragraph (a), for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”;
in paragraph (b), for “that Office” substitute “ the Board ”.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“personal information” has the meaning given by section 39(2);
an enactment contained in subordinate legislation within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978;
a person or body exercising functions of a public nature in the United Kingdom,
“relevant index-linked gilt-edged securities” means index-linked gilt-edged securities issued before the commencement of this section subject to a prospectus containing provision relating to early redemption in the event of a change to the retail prices index;
The Board may provide statistical services to any person in any place within or outside the United Kingdom.
The services which may be provided under this section include in particular—
providing information, advice and technical assistance in relation to statistics;
providing quality assessment in relation to statistics;
conducting statistical surveys and analysis;
collecting, adapting and developing data.
The Board may promote and assist statistical research, in particular by providing access (where it may lawfully do so) to data held by it.
A Minister of the Crown may by order delegate to the Board any of his functions relating to the production of statistics.
A Welsh ministerial authority may by order delegate to the Board any of the authority's functions relating to the production of statistics.
A Northern Ireland department may by order delegate to the Board any of its functions relating to the production of statistics.
An order under this section may include consequential or incidental provision (including provision amending any enactment).
The functions of the Registrar General for England and Wales under the enactments specified in subsection (2) are transferred to the Board.
Those enactments are—
the Census Act 1920 (c. 41) (censuses);
section 19 of the Registration Service Act 1953 (c. 37) (annual abstract of number of births, deaths and marriages);
paragraph 5(a) and (c) of Schedule 1 to the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (c. 56) (function as assessor to Boundary Commission for England and Boundary Commission for Wales).
Schedule 1 (which makes consequential and supplementary provision relating to the transfer of functions under subsection (1)) has effect.
The Board may do anything which it thinks necessary or expedient for the purpose of, or in connection with, the exercise of its functions.
Anything required to be published by the Board may be published by it in such manner as it thinks fit.
As soon as possible after the end of each financial year the Board must produce a report on—
what it has done during that year,
what it has found during that year, and
what it intends to do during the next financial year.
The Board must lay a report under subsection (1) before—
Parliament,
the Scottish Parliament,
the National Assembly for Wales, and
the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The Board may at any time produce a report about any matter relating to the exercise of its functions.
The Board must lay a report under subsection (3) before one or more of the following—
Parliament;
the Scottish Parliament;
the National Assembly for Wales;
the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Where the Board lays a report under this section it must publish it as soon as possible thereafter.
The Board must exercise its functions efficiently and cost-effectively.
The Board must seek to minimise the burdens (including financial burdens) it imposes on other persons.
If the Minister for the Cabinet Office considers that there has been a serious failure by the Board— he may give the Board such directions as he considers appropriate to remedy the failure.
to comply with its objective, or
to perform any of its functions,
If the Scottish Ministers consider that there has been a serious failure by the Board— they may, with the consent of the Minister for the Cabinet Office, give the Board such directions as they consider appropriate to remedy the failure.
to comply with its objective, or
to perform any of its functions so far as relating to Scottish devolved statistics,
If the Welsh Ministers consider that there has been a serious failure by the Board— they may, with the consent of the Minister for the Cabinet Office, give the Board such directions as they consider appropriate to remedy the failure.
to comply with its objective, or
to perform any of its functions so far as relating to Welsh devolved statistics,
If the Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland considers that there has been a serious failure by the Board— it may, with the consent of the Minister for the Cabinet Office, give the Board such directions as it considers appropriate to remedy the failure.
to comply with its objective, or
to perform any of its functions so far as relating to Northern Ireland devolved statistics,
The Minister for the Cabinet Office may give the Board such directions as he considers appropriate for the purpose of implementing any assimilated obligation.
A direction under this section must be in writing.
A direction under this section must be published by the authority which gave it in such manner as that authority considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing it to the attention of persons likely to be affected by it.
Where the Minister for the Cabinet Office gives a direction under this section—
he must lay a copy before Parliament, and
he must notify the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers and the Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland of the direction, who must lay a copy before the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly respectively.
Where the Scottish Ministers give a direction under this section—
they must lay a copy before the Scottish Parliament, and
the Minister for the Cabinet Office must lay a copy before Parliament.
Where the Welsh Ministers give a direction under this section—
they must lay a copy before the National Assembly for Wales, and
the Minister for the Cabinet Office must lay a copy before Parliament.
Where the Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland gives a direction under this section—
it must lay a copy before the Northern Ireland Assembly, and
the Minister for the Cabinet Office must lay a copy before Parliament.
If the Board fails to comply with any direction given to it under this section, the authority which gave the direction may give effect to it, and for that purpose may exercise any function of the Board.
But the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers and the Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland may only give effect to a direction under subsection (12) with the consent of the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
The National Statistician is to be the Board's principal adviser on—
the quality of official statistics,
good practice in relation to official statistics, and
the comprehensiveness of official statistics.
The Board must have regard to the advice of the National Statistician on those matters.
If the Board rejects the advice of the National Statistician— the Board must publish a statement of its reasons for doing so.
in relation to the development and maintenance of definitions, methodologies, classifications and standards for official statistics, or
as to the application to any statistics produced by the Board of any definition, methodology, classification or standard promoted by the Board under section 9,
Where the Board publishes a statement under subsection (3), it must as soon as possible thereafter lay a copy before Parliament.
The National Statistician is also to be the chief executive of the Board.
The National Statistician may, subject as follows, exercise any of the functions of the Board (including functions of establishing committees under section 35 and delegating functions to such committees).
The National Statistician may not exercise the functions of—
determining under section 10 whether to adopt a code as the Code of Practice for Statistics or to revise the Code, or
determining under section 12(1) or 14(1) whether any official statistics comply with the Code.
The Board may direct the National Statistician—
not to exercise a particular function, or
as to how he should exercise a particular function.
In the event of a vacancy in the office of National Statistician, his functions under this section and section 32 may be exercised by such one of the other executive members of the Board as the Board may direct.
The National Statistician must establish an executive office of the Board to assist him in his exercise of—
the function of the Board under section 9(1)(a) (development and maintenance of definitions, methodologies, classifications and standards for official statistics),
the function of the Board under section 20 (production of statistics),
the function of the Board under section 21 (retail prices index),
the function of the Board under section 22 (statistical services), and
any other function of the Board which he may exercise under section 31(2).
The executive office is, subject to this Act, to consist of—
the National Statistician (who is to be its head),
the other executive members of the Board, and
such other employees of the Board as the National Statistician may assign to it.
For the purposes of subsection (1) the National Statistician may delegate any function of the Board referred to in that subsection to any other member of the executive office.
The delegation of a function by the National Statistician under subsection (3) does not prevent him from exercising the function himself.
The Head of Assessment is to be the Board's principal adviser on the exercise of its functions under sections 12(1) and 14(1).
The Board must have regard to the advice of the Head of Assessment in the exercise of those functions.
The Head of Assessment—
if an executive member of the Board, may not exercise functions of the National Statistician under section 31(5),
may not be a member of the executive office of the Board under section 32(2)(b) or (c), and
may not in any other way take part in the production of statistics by the Board.
The National Statistician may not take part in any assessment or determination of the Board under section 12(1) or 14(1) in relation to statistics produced by the Board.
The following may not take part in any assessment or determination of the Board under section 12(1) or 14(1)—
an executive member of the Board, not being the National Statistician or Head of Assessment;
a person assigned to the executive office of the Board under section 32(2)(c).
The Board must seek to secure that, so far as practicable, employees who take part in the production of statistics should not be engaged in advising the Board on the exercise of its functions under sections 12(1) and 14(1) in relation to those statistics.
The Board may establish committees for the purpose of—
exercising functions of the Board, or
giving advice to the Board.
A committee of the Board established under subsection (1)(b) may include persons who are neither members nor employees of the Board.
A committee established under this section may establish one or more sub-committees.
Subject as follows, the Board may delegate any of its functions (generally or specifically) to—
a member of the Board,
an employee of the Board not assigned to the executive office of the Board, or
a committee established under section 35(1)(a).
The Board may not under this section delegate the functions of—
determining under section 10 whether to adopt or revise the Code of Practice for Statistics, or
determining under section 12(1) or 14(1) whether any official statistics comply with the Code.
Any committee of the Board established under section 35(1)(a) may delegate any function exercisable by it to any of its sub-committees.
The delegation of a function by the Board or a committee of the Board under this section does not prevent the Board or committee from exercising the function.
Subject to this Part, the Board may regulate—
its own proceedings (including quorum);
the proceedings (including quorum) of any of its committees.
A committee of the Board may regulate the proceedings (including quorum) of any of its sub-committees.
The validity of any proceedings of the Board, or of any of its committees or sub-committees, is not affected by—
a vacancy, or
a defective appointment.
Any information obtained by the Board in relation to the exercise of any of its functions may be used by it in relation to the exercise of any of its other functions.
Subsection (1) does not apply to information obtained by the Board in relation to the exercise of its functions under sections 12(1) and 14(1).
Subsection (1) does not apply to information obtained by the Board in relation to the exercise of its functions under section 22, unless the person from whom the Board receives the information consents to its use as specified in that subsection.
Subsection (1) is subject to any enactment which restricts or prohibits the use or disclosure of information.
Subject to this section, personal information held by the Board in relation to the exercise of any of its functions must not be disclosed by—
any member or employee of the Board,
a member of any committee of the Board, or
any other person who has received it directly or indirectly from the Board.
In this Part “personal information” means information which relates to and identifies a particular person (including a body corporate); but it does not include information about the internal administrative arrangements of the Board (whether relating to its members, employees or other persons).
For the purposes of subsection (2) information identifies a particular person if the identity of that person—
is specified in the information,
can be deduced from the information, or
can be deduced from the information taken together with any other published information.
Subsection (1) does not apply to a disclosure which—
is required or permitted by any enactment,
is required by an assimilated obligation,
is necessary for the purpose of enabling or assisting the Board to exercise any of its functions,
has already lawfully been made available to the public,
is made in pursuance of an order of a court,
is made for the purposes of a criminal investigation or criminal proceedings (whether or not in the United Kingdom),
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
is made with the consent of the person to whom it relates, or
is made to an approved researcher.
For the purposes of subsection (4)(i), “approved researcher” means an individual to whom the Board has granted access, for the purposes of statistical research, to personal information held by it.
The Board is from time to time to publish criteria by reference to which it will determine whether to grant access as specified in subsection (5).
Those criteria must require the Board to consider—
whether the individual is a fit and proper person, and
the purpose for which access is requested.
The Board may not grant access to an individual as specified in subsection (5) unless he has first signed a declaration, in such form as the Board may determine, that he understands the requirements of this section.
A person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and liable—
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to a fine, or both;
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both.
Subsection (9) does not apply where the individual making the disclosure reasonably believes—
in the case of information which is personal information by virtue of subsection (3)(a), that the identity of the person to whom it relates is not specified in the information,
in the case of information which is personal information by virtue of subsection (3)(b), that the identity of that person cannot be deduced from the information, or
in the case of information which is personal information by virtue of subsection (3)(c), that the identity of that person cannot be deduced from the information taken together with any other published information.
In the application of this section in England and Wales the reference in subsection (9)(b) is to be read as a reference to the general limit in a magistrates’ court (but this is subject to subsection (11)).
In the application of this section — the reference in subsection (9)(b) to twelve months is to be read as a reference to three months.
in England and Wales, in relation to an offence committed before 2 May 2022,
in Scotland, until the commencement of section 45(1) of the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), or
in Northern Ireland,
Section 44 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36) (prohibitions on disclosure) does not, by virtue of section 39 above, apply to personal information which—
is held by a public authority who has received it directly or indirectly from the Board, and
is not held by that authority on behalf of the Board.
In subsection (1) “public authority” has the same meaning as in the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Section 26 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 13) (prohibitions on disclosure) does not, by virtue of section 39 above, apply to personal information which—
is held by a Scottish public authority who has received it directly or indirectly from the Board, and
is not held by that authority on behalf of the Board.
In subsection (3) “Scottish public authority” has the same meaning as in the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
The Board may disclose any information obtained by it in connection with any function exercised by it to any person providing services to the Board, if the Board considers it necessary or appropriate to do so for the purpose of the provision of those services.
The Registrar General for England and Wales may, for the purpose of the exercise by the Board of any function, disclose to the Board any information to which this section applies.
This section applies to—
any information entered in any register kept under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (c. 20);
any other information received by the Registrar General in relation to any birth or death;
any information entered in the Adopted Children Register maintained by the Registrar General under section 77 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38);
any information—
entered in the marriage register under section 53D(10)(a) of the Marriage Act 1949, or
entered in any marriage register book kept under the Marriage Act 1949;
any information relating to a civil partnership which is recorded under the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33) at the time of the formation of the civil partnership.
any information recorded under section 9 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 and regulations made under that section on the conversion of a civil partnership into a marriage;
any other information received by the Registrar General in relation to any marriage or civil partnership.
In subsection (2)(b) “birth” has the same meaning as in the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953.
The Board may disclose to a person mentioned in subsection (4A) any information referred to in subsection (2)(a) to (c) which is received by the Board under this section, or any information which is produced by the Board by analysing any such information, if—
the information consists of statistics and is disclosed for the purpose of assisting the person in the performance of functions exercisable by it in relation to the health service, or
the information is disclosed for the purpose of assisting the person to produce or to analyse statistics for the purpose of assisting the person, or any other person mentioned in subsection (4A), in the performance of functions exercisable by it in relation to the health service.
Any information disclosed under subsection (4) may be disclosed in such form as the Board considers appropriate for the purpose specified in that subsection.
Those persons are—
the Secretary of State,
the Welsh Ministers,
NHS England,
an integrated care board,
a local authority,
a Local Health Board,
an NHS trust established under section 18 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006,
the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
a Special Health Authority,
the Care Quality Commission, and
such other persons as the appropriate authority may specify in a direction given for the purposes of this section.
In subsection (4) “health service” has the same meaning as in the National Health Service Act 2006 (c. 41).
For the purposes of subsection (4A)(l), the appropriate authority is—
in relation to a direction to be given for purposes relating only to Wales, the Welsh Ministers, and
in any other case, the Secretary of State.
A direction under subsection (4A)(l) must be given by an instrument in writing.
Sections 272(7) and 273(1) of the National Health Service Act 2006 apply in relation to the power of the Secretary of State to give a direction under subsection (4A)(l) as they apply in relation to powers to give a direction under that Act.
Sections 203(9) and 204(1) of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 apply in relation to the power of the Welsh Ministers to give a direction under subsection (4A)(l) as they apply in relation to powers to give a direction under that Act.
In subsection (4A)—
“local authority” has the same meaning as in section 2B of that Act of 2006.
The Secretary of State or other public authority may, subject to this section, disclose patient registration information to the Board.
In subsection (1) “patient registration information” means information about the persons who are or have been registered in any place in England or Wales as persons to whom primary medical services are or may be provided.
That information includes in particular, in relation to any person who is or has been registered as such a person—
their address and any previous address,
their date of birth and sex,
their patient identification number, and
their history of registration as such a person (including reasons for any periods of non-registration or for any cancellation of registration).
The information disclosed under this section may not include any information about the health or condition of, or the care or treatment provided to, any person.
Information disclosed under this section may only be used by the Board for the production of population statistics.
In the application of section 39 to the disclosure by a member, employee or committee member of the Board of information received by the Board under this section, paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section only have effect if the disclosure is made with the consent of the Secretary of State.
In subsection (2) “primary medical services” means services which are primary medical services for the purposes of the National Health Service Act 2006 or the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (c. 42).
The Welsh Ministers may, subject to this section, disclose patient registration information to the Board.
In subsection (1) “patient registration information” means information about the persons who are or have been registered in any place in Wales as persons to whom primary medical services are or may be provided.
That information includes in particular, in relation to any person who is or has been registered as such a person—
their address and any previous address,
their date of birth and sex,
their patient identification number, and
their history of registration as such a person (including reasons for any periods of non-registration or for any cancellation of registration).
Information disclosed under this section may not include any information about the health or condition of, or the care or treatment provided to, any person.
Information disclosed under this section may only be used by the Board for the production of population statistics.
In the application of section 39 to the disclosure by a member, employee or committee member of the Board of information received by the Board under this section, paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section only have effect if the disclosure is made with the consent of the Welsh Ministers.
In subsection (2) “primary medical services” means services which are primary medical services for the purposes of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (c. 42).
The Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs or an officer of Revenue and Customs may, subject to this section, disclose to the Board any information held by the Revenue and Customs in connection with any function of the Revenue and Customs.
Information may only be disclosed under subsection (1) if the Commissioners are satisfied that the Board requires it to enable it to exercise one or more of its functions ....
Information disclosed under subsection (1) may only be used by the Board for the purposes of any one or more of its functions ....
In determining whether the condition in subsection (2) is met the Commissioners must have regard to any views of the Board which have been communicated to them.
Information disclosed under subsection (1) may not be disclosed by the Board to any person except with the consent of the Commissioners.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Information disclosed under subsection (1) may not be used by the Board for the purposes of its function under section 22 (statistical services) except with the consent of the Commissioners.
In subsection (1) the references to “the Revenue and Customs” are to either or both of—
the Commissioners;
officers of Revenue and Customs.
In disclosing information under subsection (1), the Commissioners or an officer of Revenue and Customs must have regard to the following codes of practice issued by the Information Commissioner under section 124A of the Data Protection Act 2018, so far as they apply to the information in question—
any code which makes provision about the identification and reduction of the risks to privacy of a proposal to disclose information;
any code which makes provision about the information to be provided to data subjects (within the meaning of that Act) about the use to be made of information collected from them.
The duty in subsection (4A) to have regard to a code of practice does not affect any other requirement for the Commissioners or an officer of Revenue and Customs to have regard to a code of practice under the Data Protection Act 2018 in disclosing the information.
In determining how to comply with the duty in subsection (4A) the Commissioners or the officer of Revenue and Customs must have regard to any views of the Board which are communicated to the Commissioners or the officer.
Schedule 2 (which makes further provision relating to the disclosure of information to or by the Board) has effect.
A public authority to which this section applies may, subject to this section, disclose to the Board any information held by the authority in connection with its functions.
This section applies to a public authority other than—
the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, or
an officer of Revenue and Customs.
A public authority may disclose information under subsection (1) only if it is satisfied that the Board requires the information to enable it to exercise one or more of its functions.
In determining whether the condition in subsection (3) is met the public authority must have regard to any views of the Board which have been communicated to the authority.
Information disclosed under subsection (1) may only be used by the Board for the purposes of any one or more of its functions.
Information disclosed under subsection (1) may not be used by the Board for the purposes of its function under section 22 (statistical services) except with the consent of the public authority which disclosed the information.
Where personal information is disclosed by a public authority to the Board under subsection (1), the Board may not disclose the information to an approved researcher under section 39(4)(i) except with the consent of the public authority.
In disclosing information under subsection (1), a public authority must have regard to the following codes of practice issued by the Information Commissioner under section 124A of the Data Protection Act 2018, so far as they apply to the information in question—
any code which makes provision about the identification and reduction of the risks to privacy of a proposal to disclose information;
any code which makes provision about the information to be provided to data subjects (within the meaning of that Act) about the use to be made of information collected from them.
The duty in subsection (8) to have regard to a code of practice does not affect any other requirement for the public authority to have regard to a code of practice under the data protection legislation in disclosing the information.
In determining how to comply with the duty in subsection (8) the public authority must have regard to any views of the Board which are communicated to the authority.
A disclosure under subsection (1) does not breach—
any obligation of confidence owed by the public authority making the disclosure, or
any other restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).
But subsection (1) does not authorise the making of a disclosure which—
contravenes the data protection legislation,
is prohibited by any of Parts 1 to 7 or Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, or
contravenes assimilated direct legislation (which is not part of the data protection legislation) or anything that is EU-derived domestic legislation by virtue of section 2(2)(a) or (b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
Until the repeal of Part 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 by paragraphs 45 and 54 of Schedule 10 to the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 is fully in force, subsection (12)(b) has effect as if it included a reference to that Part.
This section does not limit the circumstances in which information may be disclosed apart from this section.
This section applies to—
a public authority which is an emanation of the Crown or a servant or agent of the Crown,
the Bank of England (including in the exercise of its functions as the Prudential Regulation Authority),
a subsidiary undertaking of the Bank of England within the meaning of the Companies Acts (see sections 1161 and 1162 of the Companies Act 2006),
the Financial Conduct Authority, and
the Payment Systems Regulator established under section 40 of the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013.
Subject to this section and section 45E, the Board has a right of access to information which—
is held by a public authority to which this section applies in connection with its functions, and
is required by the Board to enable it to exercise one or more of its functions.
Subsection (2) does not apply to information if the disclosure of that information—
would contravene the data protection legislation,
would be prohibited by any of Parts 1 to 7 or Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, or
would contravene assimilated direct legislation (which is not part of the data protection legislation) or anything that is EU-derived domestic legislation by virtue of section 2(2)(a) or (b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
Until the repeal of Part 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 by paragraphs 45 and 54 of Schedule 10 to the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 is fully in force, subsection (3)(b) has effect as if it included a reference to that Part.
The right of access in subsection (2) is to be exercised in accordance with the following provisions of this section.
The Board may, by notice in writing to the public authority, request the authority to disclose the information to the Board.
A notice under subsection (6) must—
set out the Board's reasons for requesting the information to be disclosed, and
specify the date by which or the period within which the public authority must respond to the request.
The public authority must, by that date or within that period, provide a response in writing to the Board which—
indicates that it is willing to provide the information and gives the date by which it will be provided, or
indicates that it is not willing to provide the information and gives reasons for not providing it.
Subsection (10) applies if—
the public authority fails to respond to the request in accordance with subsection (8),
the public authority indicates that it is not willing to provide the information requested, or
the public authority has indicated that it is willing to provide the information requested, but the Board considers that the public authority is failing to take reasonable steps to comply with that request.
The Board may lay the request and any response by the public authority before the relevant legislature.
In subsection (10) “the relevant legislature” means Parliament, subject as follows.
The Scottish Parliament is the relevant legislature if the public authority—
is a part of the Scottish Administration, or
is a Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions (within the meaning of the Scotland Act 1998).
The National Assembly for Wales is the relevant legislature if the public authority is a devolved Welsh authority as defined by section 157A of the Government of Wales Act 2006.
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the relevant legislature if—
the public authority exercises functions only as regards Northern Ireland, and
its functions are wholly or mainly functions which relate to transferred matters (within the meaning of the Northern Ireland Act 1998).
This section does not apply to—
Her Majesty in Her private capacity,
Her Majesty in right of the Duchy of Lancaster, or
the Duke of Cornwall.
Until the coming into force of section 12 of the Bank of England and Financial Services Act 2016 subsection (1)(b) has effect as if the words in brackets were omitted.
This section applies to a public authority to which section 45B does not apply (other than one within subsection (15) of that section).
Subject to this section and section 45E, the Board may, by notice in writing to a public authority to which this section applies, require the authority to disclose to the Board information which—
is held by the authority in connection with its functions, and
is specified, or is of a kind specified, in the notice.
A notice under subsection (2) may require information to be disclosed on more than one date specified in the notice within a period specified in the notice.
A notice under subsection (2) other than one within subsection (3) must specify the date by which or the period within which the information must be disclosed.
A notice under subsection (2) may specify the form or manner in which the information to which it relates must be disclosed.
A notice under subsection (2) may require the public authority to consult the Board before making changes to—
its processes for collecting, organising, storing or retrieving the information to which the notice relates, or
its processes for supplying such information to the Board.
The reference in subsection (6) to making changes to a process includes introducing or removing a process.
The Board may give a notice under subsection (2) only if the Board requires the information to which the notice relates to enable it to exercise one or more of its functions.
The Board must obtain the consent of the Scottish Ministers before giving a notice under subsection (2) to a public authority which is a Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions (within the meaning of the Scotland Act 1998).
The Board must obtain the consent of the Welsh Ministers before giving a notice under subsection (2) to a public authority which is a devolved Welsh authority as defined by section 157A of the Government of Wales Act 2006.
The Board must obtain the consent of the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland before giving a notice under subsection (2) to a public authority if—
the public authority exercises functions only as regards Northern Ireland, and
its functions are wholly or mainly functions which relate to transferred matters (within the meaning of the Northern Ireland Act 1998).
A public authority to which a notice under subsection (2) is given must comply with it.
But the public authority need not comply with the notice if compliance—
might prejudice national security,
would contravene the data protection legislation,
would be prohibited by any of Parts 1 to 7 or Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, or
would contravene assimilated direct legislation (which is not part of the data protection legislation) or anything that is EU-derived domestic legislation by virtue of section 2(2)(a) or (b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
Until the repeal of Part 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 by paragraphs 45 and 54 of Schedule 10 to the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 is fully in force, subsection (13)(c) has effect as if it included a reference to that Part.
Subject to this section and section 45E, the Board may, by notice in writing to an undertaking, require the undertaking to disclose to the Board information which—
is held by the undertaking, and
is specified, or is of a kind specified, in the notice.
A notice under subsection (1) may require information to be disclosed on more than one date specified in the notice within a period specified in the notice.
A notice under subsection (1) other than one within subsection (2) must specify the date by which or the period within which the information must be disclosed.
A notice under subsection (1) may specify the form or manner in which the information to which it relates must be disclosed.
A notice under subsection (1) may require the undertaking to consult the Board before making changes to—
its processes for collecting, organising, storing or retrieving the information to which the notice relates, or
its processes for supplying such information to the Board.
The reference in subsection (5) to making changes to a process includes introducing or removing a process.
The Board may give a notice under subsection (1) only if the Board requires the information to which the notice relates to enable it to exercise one or more of its functions.
An undertaking to which a notice under subsection (1) is given must comply with it.
But the undertaking need not comply with the notice if compliance—
might prejudice national security,
would contravene the data protection legislation, or
would be prohibited by any of Parts 1 to 7 or Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.
Until the repeal of Part 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 by paragraphs 45 and 54 of Schedule 10 to the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 is fully in force, subsection (9)(c) has effect as if it included a reference to that Part.
Subject to subsection (13), in this section “undertaking” means—
any person carrying on a trade or business, whether or not with a view to profit, or
any charity.
In subsection (11) “charity” means a body, or the trustees of a trust, established for charitable purposes only.
The following are not undertakings for the purposes of this section—
a public authority;
a micro business;
a small business.
Section 33 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (definitions of small and micro business) and regulations made under that section apply in relation to subsection (13) as they apply in relation to subordinate legislation within subsection (1) of that section.
Information disclosed under section 45B, 45C or 45D may only be used by the Board for the purposes of any one or more of its functions.
Information disclosed under section 45B, 45C or 45D may not be used by the Board for the purposes of its function under section 22 (statistical services) except with the consent of the person who disclosed the information.
Where personal information is disclosed under section 45B, 45C or 45D, the Board may not disclose the information to an approved researcher under section 39(4)(i) except with the consent of the person who disclosed the information.
A disclosure pursuant to section 45B, 45C or 45D does not breach—
any obligation of confidence owed by the person making the disclosure, or
any other restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).
The Board must prepare and publish a statement of—
the principles to which it will have regard in exercising its functions under sections 45B, 45C and 45D, and
the procedures which it will adopt in exercising those functions.
The statement must be consistent with the code of practice prepared under section 121 of the Data Protection Act 2018 (data-sharing code) and issued under section 125(4) of that Act (as altered or replaced from time to time).
The Board may at any time revise the statement and, if it decides to do so, must publish the statement as revised.
In preparing or revising the statement the Board must consult—
the Minister for the Cabinet Office,
the Information Commissioner,
the Scottish Ministers,
the Welsh Ministers,
the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland, and
such other persons as the Board thinks fit.
The fact that this section was not in force when consultation of the kind mentioned in subsection (8) took place is to be disregarded in determining whether there has been compliance with that subsection.
The Board may not publish the original statement under this section unless a draft of the statement has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.
Before publishing a revised statement under this section the Board must lay a draft of the statement as proposed to be published before Parliament.
The Board may not publish the revised statement if, within the 40-day period, either House of Parliament resolves not to approve it.
In subsection (12) “the 40 day period” means—
the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which the draft is laid before Parliament, or
if the draft is not laid before each House on the same day, the period of 40 days beginning with the later of the days on which it is laid before Parliament.
For the purposes of subsection (13) no account is to be taken of any period during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.
After preparing or revising a statement the Board must lay the statement, or the statement as revised, before—
the Scottish Parliament,
the National Assembly for Wales, and
the Northern Ireland Assembly.
In exercising any of its functions under section 45B, 45C or 45D to require the disclosure of information, the Board must have regard to any code of practice issued by the Information Commissioner under section 124A of the Data Protection Act 2018 which makes provision about the identification and reduction of the risks to privacy of a proposal to disclose information, so far as the code applies to the information in question.
The duty in subsection (16) to have regard to a code of practice does not affect any other requirement for the Board to have regard to a code of practice under the data protection legislation in exercising the function.
A person is guilty of an offence if—
the person is given a notice under section 45C or 45D,
the person is required to comply with the notice,
the person fails to do so, and
the person does not have a reasonable excuse for that failure.
A person is guilty of an offence if, in purporting to comply with a notice under section 45C or 45D, the person—
provides information which is false in a material respect, and
knows that the information is false in that respect or is reckless as to whether it is false in that respect.
A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is liable on summary conviction—
in England and Wales, to a fine, and
in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
If an offence under this section is committed by a body corporate with the consent or connivance of an officer of the body, the officer, as well as the body, is to be treated as having committed the offence.
In subsection (4) a reference to an officer of a body includes a reference to—
a director, manager or secretary,
a person purporting to act as a director, manager or secretary, and
if the affairs of the body are managed by its members, a member.
Where an offence under this section is committed by a partnership (whether or not a limited partnership) subsection (4) has effect, but as if a reference to an officer of the body were a reference to—
a partner, and
a person purporting to act as a partner.
The Board must prepare, adopt and publish a code of practice containing guidance on the matters to be taken into account by a public authority in making changes to—
its processes for collecting, organising, storing or retrieving information, or
its processes (if any) for supplying information to the Board.
A public authority must have regard to any code of practice under this section in making such changes.
The Board may at any time revise a code of practice under this section and, if it decides to do so, must publish the code as revised.
In preparing or revising a code of practice under this section, the Board must consult—
the Minister for the Cabinet Office,
the Scottish Ministers,
the Welsh Ministers,
the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland, and
such other persons as the Board thinks fit.
The fact that this section was not in force when consultation of the kind mentioned in subsection (4) took place is to be disregarded in determining whether there has been compliance with that subsection.
The Board may not publish the original code of practice under this section unless a draft of the code has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament
Before publishing a revised code of practice under this section the Board must lay a draft of the code as proposed to be published before Parliament.
The Board may not publish the revised code of practice if, within the 40-day period, either House of Parliament resolves not to approve it.
In subsection (8) “the 40 day period” means—
the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which the draft is laid before Parliament, or
if the draft is not laid before each House on the same day, the period of 40 days beginning with the later of the days on which it is laid before Parliament.
For the purposes of subsection (9) no account is to be taken of any period during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.
After preparing or revising a code of practice under this section the Board must lay the code, or the code as revised, before—
the Scottish Parliament,
the National Assembly for Wales, and
the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The reference in subsection (1) to making changes to a process includes introducing or removing a process.
This section binds the Crown.
The reference to the Crown in subsection (13) does not include—
Her Majesty in Her private capacity,
Her Majesty in right of the Duchy of Lancaster, or
the Duke of Cornwall.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subject to this section, the Minister for the Cabinet Office may make regulations for the purpose of authorising a public authority to disclose information to the Board where—
the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law or an Act passed before this Act, or
the authority would not otherwise have power to make the disclosure.
Regulations under subsection (1) may only authorise disclosure to enable the Board to carry out one or more of its functions, other than its function under section 22 (statistical services).
The Board may only use information received under regulations under subsection (1) for the purposes for which disclosure is authorised under subsection (2).
In the application of section 39 to personal information which has been disclosed to the Board under regulations under subsection (1), paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section do not apply (subject to any provision made under subsection (7)(b) below).
Regulations under subsection (1) may not authorise disclosure by—
a Scottish public authority, so far as exercising functions which relate to matters which are not reserved matters, or
a Northern Ireland public authority.
Regulations under subsection (1) may—
amend or modify any enactment;
contain consequential and supplementary provision.
The consequential and supplementary provision referred to in subsection (6)(b) includes in particular provision—
prohibiting or restricting further disclosure by the Board of information disclosed under the regulations;
authorising further disclosure by the Board of such information in circumstances where the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law, this Act or an Act passed before this Act.
The Minister for the Cabinet Office may only make regulations under subsection (1) with the consent of—
the Welsh Ministers, in a case where the regulations authorise disclosure by a public authority exercising functions only or mainly in or as regards Wales,
the Treasury, in a case where the regulations authorise disclosure by the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs or an officer of Revenue and Customs, or
a Minister of the Crown (other than the Minister for the Cabinet Office), in any other case.
The Minister for the Cabinet Office may only make regulations under subsection (1) authorising any disclosure if the Minister and any persons or person whose consent is required under subsection (8) are satisfied that—
the disclosure is required by the Board to enable it to carry out the function or functions in relation to which the disclosure is authorised, and
the disclosure is in the public interest.
Subsection (8)(c) does not apply in relation to regulations authorising disclosure by a public authority where the Minister for the Cabinet Office is the relevant Minister in relation to the public authority.
For the purposes of subsection (10), the Minister for the Cabinet Office is the relevant Minister in relation to such public authorities, or public authorities of such description, as the Minister may by order prescribe.
The Treasury must consult the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs before giving its consent under subsection (8)(b).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subject to this section, the Scottish Ministers may make regulations for the purpose of authorising a Scottish public authority, so far as exercising functions which relate to matters which are not reserved matters, to disclose information to the Board where—
the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law, an Act passed before this Act or an Act of the Scottish Parliament passed before this Act, or
the authority would not otherwise have power to make the disclosure.
Regulations under subsection (1) may only authorise disclosure to enable the Board to carry out one or more of its functions, other than its function under section 22 (statistical services).
The Board may only use information received under regulations under subsection (1) for the purposes for which disclosure is authorised under subsection (2).
In the application of section 39 to personal information which has been disclosed to the Board under regulations under subsection (1), paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section do not apply (subject to any provision made under subsection (6)(b) below).
Regulations under subsection (1) may—
amend or modify any enactment;
contain consequential and supplementary provision.
The consequential and supplementary provision referred to in subsection (5)(b) includes in particular provision—
prohibiting or restricting further disclosure by the Board of information disclosed under the regulations;
authorising further disclosure by the Board of such information in circumstances where the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law, this Act or an Act passed before this Act.
The Scottish Ministers may only make regulations under subsection (1) with the consent of the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
The Scottish Ministers may only make regulations under subsection (1) authorising any disclosure if they and the Minister for the Cabinet Office are satisfied that—
the disclosure is required by the Board to enable it to carry out the function or functions in relation to which the disclosure is authorised, and
the disclosure is in the public interest.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subject to this section, a Northern Ireland department may make regulations for the purpose of authorising a Northern Ireland public authority to disclose information to the Board where—
the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law, an Act passed before this Act or any Northern Ireland legislation passed or made before this Act, or
the authority would not otherwise have power to make the disclosure.
Regulations under subsection (1) may only authorise disclosure to enable the Board to carry out one or more of its functions, other than its function under section 22 (statistical services).
The Board may only use information received under regulations under subsection (1) for the purposes for which disclosure is authorised under subsection (2).
In the application of section 39 to personal information which has been disclosed to the Board under regulations under subsection (1), paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section do not apply (subject to any provision made under subsection (6)(b) below).
Regulations under subsection (1) may—
amend or modify any enactment;
contain consequential and supplementary provision.
The consequential and supplementary provision referred to in subsection (5)(b) includes in particular provision—
prohibiting or restricting further disclosure by the Board of information disclosed under the regulations;
authorising further disclosure by the Board of such information in circumstances where the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law, this Act or an Act passed before this Act.
A Northern Ireland department may only make regulations under subsection (1) with the consent of the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
A Northern Ireland department may only make regulations under subsection (1) authorising any disclosure if the department and the Minister for the Cabinet Office are satisfied that—
the disclosure is required by the Board to enable it to carry out the function or functions in relation to which the disclosure is authorised, and
the disclosure is in the public interest.
Subject to this section, the Minister for the Cabinet Office may make regulations for the purpose of authorising the Board to use information received from a public authority where the use would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law or an Act passed before this Act.
Regulations under subsection (1) may only authorise use to enable the Board to carry out one or more of its functions, other than its function under section 22 (statistical services).
Regulations under subsection (1) may—
amend or modify any enactment;
contain consequential and supplementary provision.
The Minister for the Cabinet Office may only make regulations under subsection (1) with the consent of—
the Treasury, in a case where the regulations authorise the use of information received from the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs or an officer of Revenue and Customs, or
a Minister of the Crown (other than the Minister for the Cabinet Office), in any other case.
The Minister for the Cabinet Office may only make regulations under subsection (1) authorising the use of any information if the Minister and the person consenting to the regulations are satisfied that—
the Board needs to use the information to enable it to carry out the function or functions for which the use is authorised, and
the use is in the public interest.
Where the Minister for the Cabinet Office is the relevant Minister in relation to a public authority, subsection (4)(b) and the reference in subsection (5) to the person consenting to the regulations do not apply.
For the purposes of subsection (6), the Minister for the Cabinet Office is the relevant Minister in relation to such public authorities, or public authorities of such description, as the Minister may by order prescribe.
The Treasury must consult the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs before giving its consent under subsection (4)(a).
Subject to this section, the Minister for the Cabinet Office may by regulations make provision for the purpose of authorising the Board to disclose information to a public authority where the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law or an Act passed before this Act.
Regulations under subsection (1) may only authorise disclosure for the purposes of any or all of the statistical functions of the public authority.
A public authority may only use information received under regulations under subsection (1) for the purposes for which disclosure is authorised under subsection (2).
In the application of section 39 to personal information which has been disclosed to a public authority under regulations under subsection (1), paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section do not apply (subject to any provision made under subsection (7)(b) below).
Regulations under subsection (1) may not authorise disclosure to—
a Scottish public authority for the purpose of the exercise by the authority of statistical functions which relate to matters which are not reserved matters, or
a Northern Ireland public authority.
Regulations under subsection (1) may—
amend or modify any enactment;
contain consequential and supplementary provision.
The consequential and supplementary provision referred to in subsection (6)(b) includes in particular—
provision prohibiting or restricting further disclosure by a public authority of information disclosed under the regulations;
provision authorising further disclosure by a public authority of such information in circumstances where the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law, this Act or an Act passed before this Act.
Regulations may only be made under subsection (1) authorising disclosure to a public authority with the consent of—
the Treasury, in a case where the regulations authorise disclosure to the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs or an officer of Revenue and Customs, or
a Minister of the Crown (other than the Minister for the Cabinet Office), in any other case.
Regulations may only be made under subsection (1) authorising any disclosure to a public authority if the Minister and the person consenting to the regulations are satisfied that—
the disclosure is required by the public authority for the purposes specified in the regulations, and
the disclosure is in the public interest.
Subsection (8)(b) and the reference in subsection (9) to the person consenting to the regulations do not apply in relation to regulations authorising disclosure to a public authority where the Minister for the Cabinet Office is the relevant Minister in relation to the public authority.
For the purposes of subsection (10), the Minister for the Cabinet Office is the relevant Minister in relation to such public authorities, or public authorities of such description, as the Minister may by order prescribe.
The Treasury must consult the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs before giving its consent under subsection (8)(a).
Subject to this section, the Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision for the purpose of authorising the Board to disclose information to a Scottish public authority where the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law or an Act passed before this Act.
Regulations under subsection (1) may only authorise disclosure for the purposes of any or all of the statistical functions of the Scottish public authority, so far as relating to matters which are not reserved matters.
A Scottish public authority may only use information received under regulations under subsection (1) for the purposes for which disclosure is authorised under subsection (2).
In the application of section 39 to personal information which has been disclosed to a Scottish public authority under regulations under subsection (1), paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section do not apply (subject to any provision made under subsection (6)(b) below).
Regulations under subsection (1) may—
amend or modify any enactment;
contain consequential and supplementary provision.
The consequential and supplementary provision referred to in subsection (5)(b) includes in particular—
provision prohibiting or restricting further disclosure by a Scottish public authority of information disclosed under the regulations;
provision authorising further disclosure by a Scottish public authority of such information in circumstances where the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law, this Act, an Act passed before this Act or an Act of the Scottish Parliament passed before this Act.
The Scottish Ministers may only make regulations under subsection (1) with the consent of the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
The Scottish Ministers may only make regulations under subsection (1) authorising any disclosure if they and the Minister for the Cabinet Office are satisfied that—
the disclosure is required by the Scottish public authority for the purposes specified in the regulations, and
the disclosure is in the public interest.
Subject to this section, a Northern Ireland department may by regulations make provision for the purpose of authorising the Board to disclose information to a Northern Ireland public authority where the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law or an Act passed before this Act.
Regulations under subsection (1) may only authorise disclosure for the purposes of any or all of the statistical functions of the Northern Ireland public authority.
A Northern Ireland public authority may only use information received under regulations under subsection (1) for the purposes for which disclosure is authorised under subsection (2).
In the application of section 39 to personal information which has been disclosed to a Northern Ireland public authority under regulations under subsection (1), paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section do not apply (subject to any provision made under subsection (6)(b) below).
Regulations under subsection (1) may—
amend or modify any enactment;
contain consequential and supplementary provision.
The consequential and supplementary provision referred to in subsection (5)(b) includes in particular—
provision prohibiting or restricting further disclosure by a Northern Ireland public authority of information disclosed under the regulations;
provision authorising further disclosure by a Northern Ireland public authority of such information in circumstances where the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law, this Act, an Act passed before this Act or any Northern Ireland legislation passed or made before this Act.
A Northern Ireland department may only make regulations under subsection (1) with the consent of the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
A Northern Ireland department may only make regulations under subsection (1) authorising any disclosure if the department and the Minister for the Cabinet Office are satisfied that—
the disclosure is required by the Northern Ireland public authority for the purposes specified in the regulations, and
the disclosure is in the public interest.
In sections 50 to 53, references to an Act passed before this Act do not include—
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42).
Subject to this section, the Board may disclose information held by the Board in connection with the exercise of any of its functions to a devolved authority.
In this section “devolved authority” means—
a person who is a part of the Scottish Administration,
the Welsh Ministers,
the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland, or
the Registrar General for Northern Ireland.
Information may only be disclosed under this section for the purposes of any or all of the statistical functions of a devolved authority.
Information may only be disclosed under this section in response to a request in writing by a devolved authority which specifies—
the information which is sought, and
the purposes for which it is sought.
A request under subsection (4) may request information to be disclosed on more than one date specified in the notice within a period specified in the notice.
Information may be disclosed under this section only if—
the Board is satisfied that the information is required for the purposes of the statistical functions of the devolved authority which are specified in the request,
the Board is satisfied that the information will not be used for any other purpose, and
if the information was obtained by the Board from a public authority, the authority consents to the disclosure.
The Board may—
disclose information under this section subject to conditions to be met by the devolved authority;
from time to time modify conditions subject to which information has been disclosed;
in the case of information which it is disclosing in response to a request to which subsection (5) applies, cease to disclose information in response to the request if any of the conditions are breached.
A devolved authority may only use information disclosed under this section for the purposes for which it was disclosed.
In disclosing information under subsection (1), the Board must have regard to the following codes of practice issued by the Information Commissioner under section 124A of the Data Protection Act 2018, so far as they apply to the information in question—
any code which makes provision about the identification and reduction of the risks to privacy of a proposal to disclose information;
any code which makes provision about the information to be provided to data subjects (within the meaning of that Act) about the use to be made of information collected from them.
The duty in subsection (9) to have regard to a code of practice does not affect any other requirement for the Board to have regard to a code of practice under the data protection legislation in disclosing the information.
In the application of section 39 to personal information which has been disclosed to a devolved authority under this section, paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section do not apply.
This section does not authorise the making of a disclosure which would—
breach any obligation of confidence owed by the Board,
contravene the data protection legislation,
be prohibited by any of Parts 1 to 7 or Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, or
breach any other restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).
Until the repeal of Part 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 by paragraphs 45 and 54 of Schedule 10 to the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 is fully in force, subsection (12)(c) has effect as if it included a reference to that Part.
Nothing in this section affects the scope of the powers in sections 51 to 53.
The following shall cease to function on the commencement of this section—
the Office for National Statistics;
the Statistics Commission.
Subject to subsection (6), on commencement of this section the property, rights and liabilities of the Office for National Statistics and of the National Statistician shall by virtue of this section vest in the Board.
Subsection (1) shall operate in relation to property, rights and liabilities—
whether or not they would otherwise be capable of being transferred,
without any instrument or other formality being required, and
irrespective of any requirement for consent that would otherwise apply.
Anything done by, on behalf of or in relation to the Office for National Statistics or the National Statistician which has effect immediately before the commencement of this section shall continue to have effect as if done by, on behalf of or in relation to the Board.
Anything (including legal proceedings) which immediately before commencement of this section is in the process of being done by, on behalf of or in relation to the Office for National Statistics or the National Statistician may be continued by, on behalf of or in relation to the Board.
So far as is necessary or appropriate in consequence of the preceding provisions of this section, on and after commencement of this section a reference to the Office for National Statistics or the National Statistician in an agreement (whether written or not), instrument or other document shall be treated as a reference to the Board.
The Minister for the Cabinet Office may make a scheme or schemes identifying property, rights and liabilities of the Office for National Statistics or the National Statistician (or both) which shall not vest in the Board on commencement of this section but shall vest in the Registrar General for England and Wales or a Minister of the Crown (including the Minister for the Cabinet Office).
A scheme under subsection (6) shall have effect—
in so far as it excludes anything from the operation of subsection (1), on commencement of this section, and
in so far as it vests anything in the Registrar General or Minister of the Crown, on such date as may be specified in the scheme.
A scheme under subsection (6) may operate in relation to property, rights and liabilities as specified in subsection (2)(a), (b) and (c).
A scheme under subsection (6) may include consequential and incidental provision and may in particular—
make provision for the continuing effect of things done by the Office for National Statistics or the National Statistician before commencement of this section;
make provision for the continuation of things (including legal proceedings) in the process of being done by, on behalf of or in relation to the Office for National Statistics or the National Statistician immediately before commencement of this section;
make provision for references to the Office for National Statistics or the National Statistician in an agreement (whether written or not), instrument or other document to be treated as references to the Registrar General or a Minister of the Crown;
make provision for shared ownership, use or access.
Where a scheme has been made under subsection (6), the Board and the Registrar General or the Minister of the Crown may agree in writing to modify the scheme (and any such modification shall have effect as from the date the original scheme came into effect).
In this section “the National Statistician” means the National Statistician who holds office immediately before the commencement of section 1.
On commencement of this section the property, rights and liabilities of the Registrar General for England and Wales held or incurred in relation to the functions transferred under section 25 (the “transferred functions”) shall by virtue of this section vest in the Board.
Subsection (1) shall operate in relation to property, rights and liabilities—
whether or not they would otherwise be capable of being transferred,
without any instrument or other formality being required, and
irrespective of any requirement for consent that would otherwise apply.
Anything done by, on behalf of or in relation to the Registrar General in respect of the transferred functions which has effect immediately before commencement of this section shall continue to have effect as if done by, on behalf of or in relation to the Board.
Anything (including legal proceedings) which immediately before commencement of this section is in the process of being done by, on behalf of or in relation to the Registrar General in respect of, or connected with, the transferred functions, may be continued by, on behalf of or in relation to the Board.
So far as is necessary or appropriate in consequence of the preceding provisions of this section, on and after commencement of this section a reference to the Registrar General in an agreement (whether written or not), instrument or other document shall be treated as a reference to the Board.
The Minister for the Cabinet Office may make a scheme or schemes transferring property, rights and liabilities from a Minister of the Crown to the Board and such transfer shall have effect in accordance with the terms of the scheme.
A scheme under subsection (1) may operate in relation to property, rights and liabilities as specified in section 56(2)(a), (b) and (c).
A scheme under subsection (1) may include consequential and incidental provision and may in particular—
make provision for the continuing effect of things done by the Minister of the Crown in relation to anything transferred by the scheme;
make provision for the continuation of things (including legal proceedings) in the process of being done by, on behalf of or in relation to the Minister of the Crown in relation to anything transferred by the scheme;
make provision for references to the Minister of the Crown in an agreement (whether written or not), instrument or other document in relation to anything transferred by the scheme to be treated as references to the Board;
make provision for shared ownership, use or access.
Where a scheme has been made under subsection (1), the Minister of the Crown and the Board may agree in writing to modify the scheme (and any such modification shall have effect as from the date the original scheme came into effect).
The Board may provide services and facilities to—
the Registrar General for England and Wales in order to enable him more efficiently to carry out his functions,
the Boundary Commission for England in order to enable it more efficiently to carry out its functions, and
the Secretary of State or another public authority in order to enable him or it more efficiently to carry out his or its functions relating to the registration in England or Wales of persons to whom primary medical services are or have been provided.
The services and facilities referred to in subsection (1) include in particular the making available of premises, computer systems and administrative services.
In subsection (1)(c) “primary medical services” means—
in relation to registration in England, services which are primary medical services for the purposes of the National Health Service Act 2006 (c. 41), and
in relation to registration in Wales, services which are primary medical services for the purposes of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (c. 42).
Schedule 3 (which makes amendments consequential on the conferral on the Board of functions previously exercised by the Office for National Statistics) has effect.
Section 57 of the Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14) (which provides for a central register kept by the Registrar General for Scotland for health and local authority purposes) is amended as follows—
in subsection (2), in paragraph (d), after “department” insert “ or an NHS body ”;
after that subsection, insert—
The expenditure of the Board is to be paid out of money provided by Parliament.
Sums paid to the Board (other than under subsection (1)) are to be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
The Board may with the approval of the Minister for the Cabinet Office make to or in respect of members of the Board, employees or committee members payments by way of, or in respect of, remuneration, pension, allowances or expenses.
The application of the seal of the Board is to be authenticated by the signature of a person authorised for that purpose by the Board (generally or specifically).
A document purporting to be duly executed under the seal of the Board or purporting to be signed on its behalf is to be received in evidence and taken, unless the contrary is proved, as so executed or signed.
The Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (c. 13) is amended in accordance with subsections (2) and (3).
In Schedule 2 (departments and authorities subject to investigation), at the appropriate place insert— “ Statistics Board ”.
In the Notes to Schedule 2, after the paragraph relating to the Ministry of Defence insert—
The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 (asp 11) is amended in accordance with subsections (5) and (6).
In section 7 (matters which may be investigated: restrictions), after subsection (6A) insert—
In schedule 2 (persons liable to investigation), after paragraph 91 (Security Industry Authority) insert—
In each of— at the appropriate place insert “ The Statistics Board ”.
Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24), and
Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25),
Any power to make an order or regulations under this Part is exercisable—
in the case of an order or regulations made by the Minister for the Cabinet Office or other Minister of the Crown, the Scottish Ministers or a Welsh ministerial authority, by statutory instrument, and
in the case of an order or regulations made by a Northern Ireland department, by statutory rule for the purposes of the Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (SI 1979/1573 (NI 12)).
A Minister of the Crown may not make an order under section 6(1)(b) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the order has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament.
A statutory instrument containing an order made by a Minister of the Crown under section 24 that includes consequential or incidental provision amending any relevant legislation is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
A statutory instrument containing an order made by the Minister for the Cabinet Office under section ... 50(7) or 51(11) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
The Minister for the Cabinet Office may not make— unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the order or regulations has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament.
an order under section 11, or
regulations under section ... 50 or 51,
The Scottish Ministers may not make— unless a draft of the instrument containing the order or regulations has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the Scottish Parliament.
an order under section 6(1)(b) or 11, or
regulations under section ... 52,
The Welsh Ministers may not make an order under section 6(1)(b) or 11 unless a draft of the instrument containing the order has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the National Assembly for Wales.
A statutory instrument containing an order made by a Welsh ministerial authority under section 24 that includes consequential or incidental provision amending any relevant legislation is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.
A statutory rule containing— is subject to affirmative resolution, within the meaning of section 41(4) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (1954 c. 33 (NI)).
an order made by a Northern Ireland department under section 6(1)(b),
an order made by the Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland under section 11, or
regulations made by a Northern Ireland department under section ... 53,
A statutory rule containing an order made by a Northern Ireland department under section 24 that includes consequential or incidental provision amending any relevant legislation is subject to negative resolution, within the meaning of section 41(6) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954.
In this section, “relevant legislation” means—
an Act of Parliament;
an Act of the Scottish Parliament;
Northern Ireland legislation;
a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales.
In this Part “Scottish devolved statistics” means—
statistics which relate to matters in Scotland which are not reserved matters, unless the statistics are produced by a person acting on behalf of the Crown or a public authority in the exercise of functions in relation to a reserved matter,
statistics which relate to matters in Scotland which are reserved matters, where the statistics are produced by a person acting on behalf of the Crown or a public authority in the exercise of functions in relation to a matter which is not a reserved matter, and
statistics produced by the Scottish Ministers in the exercise of a function which is exercisable by them pursuant to an Order made under section 63(1)(a) of the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46).
But statistics are not Scottish devolved statistics by virtue of subsection (1)(a) or (b) if they are produced by— and do not relate wholly to Scotland.
an authority which is a cross-border public authority within the meaning of the Scotland Act 1998, or
an authority which is treated as a cross-border public authority for the purposes of sections 23(2)(b) and 70(6) of that Act,
In this Part “Welsh devolved statistics” means statistics which relate to the exercise of functions by a devolved Welsh authority (within the meaning given by section 157A of the Government of Wales Act 2006), other than statistics produced by a person acting on behalf of— in the exercise of functions that could not be conferred by provision falling within the legislative competence of the National Assembly for Wales (see section 108A of that Act).
the Crown, or
a public authority,
In this Part “Northern Ireland devolved statistics” means—
statistics which relate to matters in Northern Ireland which are transferred matters, unless the statistics are produced by a person acting on behalf of the Crown or a public authority in the exercise of functions in relation to a matter which is not a transferred matter, and
statistics which relate to matters in Northern Ireland which are not transferred matters, where the statistics are produced by a person acting on behalf of the Crown or a public authority in the exercise of functions in relation to matter which is a transferred matter.
In this Part—
a person or body exercising functions of a public nature in the United Kingdom,
an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament;
“Minister of the Crown” has the same meaning as in the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975 (c. 26);
Section 1 of the Registration Service Act 1953 (c. 37) is amended as follows—
renumber the existing provision as subsection (1);
after that subsection insert—
Subject to section 57, the property, rights and liabilities of the Registrar General on the commencement of this section shall at that time become the property, rights and liabilities of the Registrar General as a corporation sole.
On commencement of this section, every person who immediately before commencement of this section holds a relevant office becomes an employee of the relevant local authority.
The relevant offices are—
superintendent registrar of births, deaths and marriages appointed under section 6 of the Registration Service Act 1953;
registrar of births and deaths appointed under that section;
deputy superintendent registrar of births, deaths and marriages appointed under section 8 of that Act;
deputy registrar of births and deaths appointed under that section.
The terms and conditions of appointment of the holder of a relevant office have effect from commencement of this section (subject to any necessary modifications) as the terms and conditions of his employment with the relevant local authority.
On commencement of this section any liabilities incurred by the holder of a relevant office in connection with the exercise of his functions are transferred to the relevant local authority.
Any period which ends immediately before commencement of this section during which a person was continuously— must be treated as a period of continuous employment with the relevant local authority.
the holder of a relevant office (whether in respect of the same or different relevant offices), or
the holder of a relevant office (whether in respect of the same or different relevant offices) or an employee of a local authority,
If, immediately before commencement of this section, the holder of a relevant office was a member of a pension scheme established in pursuance of regulations under sections 7 and 12 of the Superannuation Act 1972 (c. 11), he continues to be a member of the scheme by virtue of his becoming an employee of the relevant local authority.
For the purposes of this section, the “relevant local authority” is—
in relation to the holder of a relevant office falling within subsection (2)(a) or (b), the local authority by which he was appointed;
in relation to the holder of a relevant office falling within subsection (2)(c) or (d), the local authority which appointed the superintendent registrar of births, deaths and marriages or registrar of births and deaths by whom he was appointed.
For the purposes of this section, each of the following is a local authority—
a county council in England;
a district council in England for an area without a county council;
a London borough council;
the Common Council of the City of London;
the Council of the Isles of Scilly;
a county or county borough council in Wales.
The Registration Service Act 1953 (c. 37) is amended as follows.
In section 6 (superintendent registrars and registrars of births and deaths)—
in subsection (1), omit the proviso;
in subsection (3)—
for “a salaried officer paid by” substitute “ an officer of ”;
omit the words from “and shall” to the end;
omit subsection (4).
In section 13(2)(f) (local schemes of organisation), omit the words from “so, however” to the end.
In section 15(1) (delivery of documents on ceasing to hold office), omit the words from “or, if there is no successor,” to the end.
For section 8 of the Registration Service Act 1953 (deputy superintendent registrars and registrars) substitute—
In the Registration Service Act 1953 (c. 37) omit section 7 (additional registrars of marriages).
The enactments specified in Schedule 4 are repealed to the extent shown.
The preceding provisions of this Act shall come into such force in accordance with provision made by order made by statutory instrument by the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
An order under this section may—
make different provision for different purposes;
include supplementary, consequential and transitional provision and savings.
This Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, subject as follows.
Section 62 does not extend to Scotland.
Part 2 does not extend to Scotland or Northern Ireland (subject to subsection (4)).
An amendment or repeal effected by this Act has the same extent as the enactment to which it relates.
This Act may be cited as the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.
Section 25(3)
...
The Census Act 1920 is amended as follows.
In the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, in Schedule 1, in paragraph 5(a) and (c), for “the Registrar General for England and Wales” substitute “ the Statistics Board ”.
In section 4(2) of the Population (Statistics) Act 1938 (restriction on disclosure), at the beginning insert “ Subject to any other enactment ”.
In section 122AA of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (disclosure of information relating to contributions etc), in subsection (2)(c), for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”.
In section 8 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984, in subsection (3)—
for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”;
for “that Office” substitute “ the Board ”.
The Broadcasting Act 1990 is amended as follows. In section 19, in subsection (10), for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”. In section 102, in subsection (10), for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”.
In section 84 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993, in subsection (6)—
in paragraph (a), for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”;
in paragraph (b), for “that Office” substitute “ the Board ”.
In section 53 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001, in subsection (8)—
in paragraph (a), for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”;
in paragraph (b), for “that Office” substitute “ the Board ”.
In Schedule 7 to the Pensions Act 2004, in paragraph 37(1), in the definition of “retail prices index”—
in paragraph (a), for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”;
in paragraph (b), for “that Office” substitute “ the Board ”.
Section 2 is amended as follows. In subsection (1), for “the Registrar-General” substitute “ the Statistics Board in relation to England and Wales and the Registrar General for Scotland in relation to Scotland ”. For subsection (2) substitute— Omit subsection (3).
Section 3 is amended as follows. In subsection (1), for “the Chancellor of the Exchequer” substitute “ the Minister for the Cabinet Office in relation to England, the Welsh Ministers in relation to Wales and the Scottish Ministers in relation to Scotland ”. In that subsection, in paragraph (c), for “superintendent registrar or registrar” substitute “ employee of the Statistics Board (in relation to England and Wales) or any registrar (in relation to Scotland) ”. After that subsection insert—
Section 4 is amended as follows. In subsection (1), for “The Registrar-General” substitute “ The Statistics Board and the Registrar General for Scotland respectively ”. In subsection (2)—
Section 5 is amended as follows. Renumber the existing provision as subsection (1). In that subsection— After that subsection insert—
In section 6, in subsection (1)—
for “the Chancellor of the Exchequer”, in the first place, substitute “ the Minister for the Cabinet Office (in relation to England and Wales) or the Scottish Ministers (in relation to Scotland) ”;
for “the Chancellor of the Exchequer”, in the second place, substitute “ the Minister for the Cabinet Office or the Scottish Ministers ”;
after “he thinks fit” insert “ or they think fit ”.
In section 9, omit subsections (1) and (4).
Section 46
“integrated care board” and “Special Health Authority” have the same meaning as in the National Health Service Act 2006;
Section 8 of the Census Act 1920 (penalties) is amended as follows. In subsection (2)— In subsection (6)— In subsection (7) in the definition of “designated office” for “a Registrar”substitute “ the Registrar General for Scotland ”.
In section 3 of the Agricultural Statistics Act 1979 (disclosure of information relating to agricultural statistics etc.), in subsection (2), after paragraph (g) insert—.
In Schedule 7 to the Bank of England Act 1998 (disclosure of information), in the table in paragraph 3, for “The Office for National Statistics” substitute “ The Chancellor of the Exchequer (or any person to whom any functions of the Chancellor of the Exchequer under the Statistics of Trade Act 1947 are delegated) ”.
Section 60(1)
“rights and liabilities” includes rights and liabilities relating to employment;
In Schedule 12B to the Local Government Act 1972, in paragraph 3—
in sub-paragraph (6), for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”;
in sub-paragraph (7), for “that Office” substitute “ the Board ”.
In section 17 of the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Act 1988, in subsection (12)—
for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”;
for “that Office” substitute “ the Board ”.
In section 11 of the Ports Act 1991, in subsection (9)—
for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”;
for “that Office” substitute “ the Board ”.
In section 17 of the Bank of England Act 1998, in subsection (6)(b), for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”.
In section 1 of the Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) Act 2001, in subsection (5), in the definition of “the retail prices index”—
in paragraph (a), for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”;
in paragraph (b), for “that Office” substitute “ the Board ”.
In section 989 of the Income Tax Act 2007 (definitions), in the definition of “retail prices index”—
in paragraph (a), for “Office for National Statistics” substitute “ Statistics Board ”;
in paragraph (b), for “that Office” substitute “ the Board ”.
Section 73
Short title and chapter Extent of repeal Census Act 1920 (c. 41) Section 2(3). Section 9(1) and (4). Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (c. 13) In Schedule 2, the entries relating to the Office for National Statistics and the Statistics Commission. Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36) In Schedule 1, in Part 6, the entry relating to the Statistics Commission.
Short title and chapter Extent of repeal Registration Service Act 1953 (c. 37) In section 6— in subsection (1), the proviso; in subsection (3), the words from “and shall” to the end; subsection (4). Section 7. In section 13(2)(f), the words from “so, however” to the end. In section 15(1), the words from “or, if there is no successor,” to the end.