Iain Duncan Smith has been caught up in a new row over his department's dodgy use of official figures, the fourth in a year.{jcomments on}
The controversy erupted after top Department for Work and Pensions official Neil Couling tried to defend the government's Work Programme during a grilling by members of Parliament's work and pensions committee using unpublished data, which angered MPs as they did not have a chance to properly scrutinize the figures.
Labour member Sheila Gilmore complained to Sir Andrew Dilnot, chair of the UK Statistics Authority, who confirmed that "published official statistics should be referred to in public statements" and that alternative information should be used only in "exceptional circumstances".
Sir Andrew added: "It is a matter of regret that DWP’s usual practice, which would have ensured compliance with the National Statistician’s guidance, was not followed."
Read the full news article in the Huffington Post
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