| Information needed | Response |
|---|---|
| Title and link to statistical output | Monthly Insolvency Statistics, June 2021 |
| Name of producer organisation | HMT - Insolvency Service |
| Name and contact details of person dealing with report | Kate Palmer kate.palmer@insolvency.gov.uk 0300 304 7195 |
| Name and contact details of Head of Profession for Statistics or Lead Official | John Perrett John.perrett@insolvency.gov.uk 0300 304 6975 |
| Link to published statement about the breach (if relevant) | |
| Date of breach report | 20 July 2021 |
| Information needed | Response |
|---|---|
| Relevant principle(s) and practice(s) | T3.3: “Access to statistics before their public release should be limited to those involved in the production of the statistics and the preparation of the release, and for quality assurance and operational purposes. Accurate records of those who have access before they are finalised should be maintained.” T3.4 “The circulation of statistics in their final form ahead of their publication should be restricted to eligible recipients, in line with the rules and principles on pre-release access set out in legislation for the UK and devolved administrations…” V2: Accessibility: "Statistics and data should be equally available to all, not given to some people before others. They should be published at a sufficient level of detail and remain publicly available." |
| Date of occurrence of breach | 15 July 2021 |
The Insolvency Service circulated the embargoed June monthly insolvency statistics to named individuals on the published pre-release access (PRA) list at 1.15pm on 15th July, ahead of publication at 9.30am on 16th July. The email contained appropriate protective markings and handling instructions that made it clear to officials at HM Treasury (HMT) that the statistics were embargoed, and were not to be forwarded or discussed with individuals not on the PRA list until 9.30am on 16th July.
At 3.14pm on 15th July an official at HMT forwarded an email containing some headline results to one of their HMT colleagues, and to an official in the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). These recipients were not entitled to early access to this information as they were not named on the PRAlist. The Insolvency Service deputy head of statistics (INSS Stats DH) was cc’d into the email. The INSS Stats DH notified all officials and asked them to not circulate further. Both recipients have confirmed that they only received the email containing a chart with headline company insolvency statistics, and not the full release. This is the first time, to their knowledge, that they have been forwarded statistics ahead of public release. The OBR recipient also confirmed that they were on annual leave on the afternoon of the email being sent and did not open the email until after the statistics were in the public domain.
The INSS Head of Statistics emailed the HMT officials on 16th July to remind them of their obligations and also informed the INSS Lead Official and both the BEIS and HMT Heads of Profession (HoP) of the breach.
The impact could have been considerable if these statistics were circulated more widely given external and media interest in these statistics. External commentators typically publicly respond to these statistics within a matter of hours of publication. However, neither recipient discussed the contents of the email received, or shared the email, with anyone else before public release and therefore the impact is considered minimal.
The Insolvency Service has asked HMT officials to justify the need for each individual to have access to ensure that the right people have early sight of the statistics, which HMT HoP supported. HMT officials have already actioned this, resulting in a reduced PRA list listing just a few officials who may be required to prepare a briefing ahead of public release.
In addition to reducing the list, HMT HoP will be briefing HMT Officials with continued PRA on their
responsibilities and the arrangements for statistics where they have PRA, including for branch heads where they are responsible. Further breaches of these statistics may result in HMT Officials being removed from the PRA list for these statistics.