Matt Hancock’s ‘Misleading’ Testing Figures Slammed By UK Stats Watchdog

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The UK’s statistics watchdog has warned Matt Hancock that government figures used on Covid-19 testing are neither “complete” nor “comprehensible”.

In a fresh rebuke to the health secretary, the UK Statistics Authority has written to him to express a raft of concerns about “misleading” data presentation.

It singles out the heavily criticised decision of the government to classify tests posted out as the equivalent to tests actually carried out.

The move, seen as a dodge by critics, meant that Hancock was able to meet his 100,000 daily testing target by the end of April.

HuffPost UK revealed last week that the UK Statistics Authority had remaining concerns despite a letter from Hancock attempting to respond to a previous warning about his use of statistics.

Now its chairman Sir David Norgrove has written again directly to the health secretary to make plain his continuing worries about the use of statistics.

In his letter released on Tuesday, Norgrove said “the figures are still far from complete and comprehensible” despite attempts by Hancock to address his concerns.

“The testing statistics still fall well short of its expectations. It is not surprising that given their inadequacy, data on testing are so widely criticised and often mistrusted,” Norgrove said.

He said the current statistics on testing fail to help the public understand the pandemic properly or to help manage the new NHS Test and Trace system. Statistics on testing perhaps serve two main purposes.

“The aim seems to be to show the largest possible number of tests, even at the expense of understanding. It is also...

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