Dear Emma,

Recent Usage of ONS Data by The Rt Hon Steve Reed MP

I hope this email finds you well.

I am contacting you in relation to recent comments made by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and his usage of ONS data.

The Minister has cited the attached statistics regarding water monitoring in Scotland to argue that pollution in Scotland is worse than in England and that nationalised water systems in general perform worse than privatised systems.

The Minister’s initial comments in the Chamber can be found here.

I also link to comments made in the chamber by the Secretary of State citing these figures (published on social media here), which he claimed yesterday he “stood by”.

This seems to be at odds with other statistical analysis done by SEPA and the Independent Water Commission. SEPA reported that 87% of Scotland’s entire water environment as having a ‘high’ or ‘good’ classification for water quality – up from 82% in 2014. The Independent Water Commission found that 66% of Scotland’s water bodies are of good ecological status as compared with 16.1% in England and 29.9% in Wales.

I should be grateful if you would provide me with a view of your interpretation of these ONS statistics and whether you consider the Minister’s conclusion as a reasonable interpretation in light of the wider context and statistics.

With best wishes.

Yours sincerely

Seamus Logan MP
Member of Parliament for Aberdeenshire North & Moray East

 

Related links

Letter from Professor Dame Carol Propper to Seamus Logan MP – statements on water quality