“To be clear, all BBC journalism and editorial decisions are made by BBC journalists and editors, in line with the BBC’s editorial guidelines, so the statisticians never make editorial decisions. However, the BBC takes independence and transparency incredibly seriously, and we must ensure we are meeting the highest standards.”
The Government Statistical Service, the body which represents civil service statisticians, said: “These secondments are a valuable part of our investment in developing the skills of government statisticians, providing first-hand experience of how government data are used and communicated.
“Bringing that back into the Civil Service helps us communicate statistics clearly, informing the public and decision makers.
“The role of secondees is to fact check and advise on the accurate use of statistics. All are required to adhere to the Civil Service Code of objectivity and impartiality.”