British Society for Population Studies conference plenary address

FOI Reference: FOI/2022/4441

You asked

At the British Society for Population Studies conference this week, the National Statistician, Sir Ian Diamond, gave the plenary address.  In his speech, he specifically stated that the population estimate for Coventry was an error.

Can I please see:

• A copy of Sir Ian's address in full, his speaking notes, and slides  
• Any emails, documents, reports, or notes, handwritten or electronic, relating to the population estimate for Coventry being a mistake or an error. within the last 2 years.
• I am particularly interested in understanding how and when the error was recognised and what the identified source of the error was.

We said

​Thank you for your request.

We would like to clarify that Sir Ian Diamond did not state that the population estimates for Coventry were an error at the British Society for Population Studies conference (BSPS). He did make reference to intercensal drift, which refers to the population figures derived from the Census becoming less accurate as time goes on.

Please see the following recently published article: Methods for producing mid-2021 population estimates rolled forward from Census 2021. This describes the approach we are taking to the forthcoming mid-2021 population estimates. This deals with the rolling forward of estimates following Census 2021 as well as some of the issues related to the pandemic.

The slide pack used during the address is attached to this response.

We do not hold a recording of the address, nor do we hold any speaker notes used by Sir Ian. We also do not hold any correspondence regarding the Coventry estimates being an error.