UK stats office raps Blair over jobs comments

LONDON, Sep 13 (Reuters) Britain's Office for National Statistics today reprimanded Prime Minister Tony Blair for commenting on market-sensitive jobs data ahead of publication.

In a letter to Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell, National Statistician Karen Dunnell said Blair's reported comments ''clearly contravened'' the National Statistics code of practice.

Senior ministers are given access to economic indicators ahead of time but are expected to remain silent until after publication.

''It is essential for the maintenance of the integrity of official statistics, and of public confidence in them, that the provisions of the code of practice are complied with fully,'' Dunnell wrote.

''I should grateful, therefore, if you would bring this point to the attention of all at 10 Downing Street.'' Speaking to an annual meeting of union leaders yesterday, Blair said: ''Tomorrow, I think, we will probably see for the first time in some months a fall again in unemployment.'' The data duly showed the number of people claiming jobless benefit fell by 3,900 in August, the biggest fall in 18 months.

Before Blair spoke, financial markets had been expecting an increase.

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