Industry Forum
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Sir Michael Scholar was appointed Chair-designate of the UK Statistics Authority in August 2007 and took up his post in a shadow capacity on 3 September.
His appointment (and that of the rest of the Board) became formal on 1 April 2008. As Chair his appointment is a Crown appointment, made after the new procedure for the most senior appointments, with the approval of Parliament.
With strong links to south Wales, his place of birth, Sir Michael holds an Honorary Fellowship at Cardiff University, and at the University of Wales (Aberystwyth), and an Honorary Doctorate at Glamorgan University.
He was Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Office between 1993 and 1996.
He was also Permanent Secretary to the Department of Trade and Industry (1996-2001), and Private Secretary in the early 1980s to the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. He was awarded a CBE in 1991 and a KCB in 1999.
Sir Michael is President of St John's College, Oxford. He is married with three children. His personal interests include music, literature and the arts. He plays the organ and piano and holds an Associateship of the Royal College of Organists. He also enjoys long distance walking and gardening.
Past Speaking Events
12 July 2010
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Lunch Meeting
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London
Trust and Statistics
The UK Statistics Authority has rebuked politicians for premature, irregular and selective use of statistics. And a recent survey of US and European economies finds that only one in eight adults believe official data are accurate and most feel that statistics are subject to political manipulation or media spin. As many governments need to take difficult decisions, this lack of confidence could make it hard for politicians to carry public opinion. What is being done to improve the integrity of official statistics?