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OBR boss Chote would tell Treasury to 'buzz off' if it interfered OBR boss Chote would tell Treasury to 'buzz off' if it interfered
(about 3 hours later)
The head of the government's Budget watchdog has said he would tell senior Treasury officials to "buzz off" if they tried to interfere in its work.The head of the government's Budget watchdog has said he would tell senior Treasury officials to "buzz off" if they tried to interfere in its work.
Emails obtained by The Times showed that Treasury officials had tried to change the language of Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts.Emails obtained by The Times showed that Treasury officials had tried to change the language of Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts.
However, Robert Chote, the OBR's chair, said the emails from the Treasury had not affected its independence.However, Robert Chote, the OBR's chair, said the emails from the Treasury had not affected its independence.
The OBR provides independent analysis of the Budget and public finances.The OBR provides independent analysis of the Budget and public finances.
It was set up by Chancellor George Osborne in 2010. It was set up by Chancellor George Osborne in 2010 and Mr Chote was appearing before the Commons Treasury Select Committee to discuss his reappointment as its head.
Mr Chote was appearing before the Commons Treasury Select Committee discussing his reappointment as its head.
He said that the interference from the Treasury had been "at a working level" rather than at a senior level.He said that the interference from the Treasury had been "at a working level" rather than at a senior level.
Mr Chote said: "In 20 years as a journalist and at the IFS [Institute for Fiscal Studies] writing about Treasury policy I've been treated to "We know where you live" and "You'll never work in this town again" more times than I care to remember.Mr Chote said: "In 20 years as a journalist and at the IFS [Institute for Fiscal Studies] writing about Treasury policy I've been treated to "We know where you live" and "You'll never work in this town again" more times than I care to remember.
'Rather convoluted''Rather convoluted'
"It didn't affect me then and it wouldn't affect me now. If I was being put under serious pressure by the Chancellor, private officers, senior officials, I would tell them to buzz off, and I would tell you what was going on."It didn't affect me then and it wouldn't affect me now. If I was being put under serious pressure by the Chancellor, private officers, senior officials, I would tell them to buzz off, and I would tell you what was going on.
"But I am not going to sit here and beat up on a hard working Grade 6 [Treasury Official] for having the temerity to offer us drafting advice.""But I am not going to sit here and beat up on a hard working Grade 6 [Treasury Official] for having the temerity to offer us drafting advice."
The emails published under a Freedom of Information Request showed Treasury officials had suggested changes to the OBR's analysis.The emails published under a Freedom of Information Request showed Treasury officials had suggested changes to the OBR's analysis.
According to the Times, one email written before the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Autumn Statement last year read: "As usual we would be be very grateful if you could consider these and the phrasing around a lot of this." One email written before the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Autumn Statement last year read: "As usual we would be be very grateful if you could consider these and the phrasing around a lot of this." It then outlined eleven suggested changes.
The Treasury code of conduct allows officials to correct the OBR on questions of fact, but not on matters of interpretation. The Treasury Memorandum of Understanding with the OBR allows officials to correct it on questions of fact, but not on matters of interpretation.
A Treasury spokesperson said: "Ensuring an open and transparent working relationship between the Treasury and the OBR is supported by the jointly-agreed Memorandum of Understanding and we do not accept there has been either a breach of this agreement or the spirit of its principles.
During the committee hearing, its chair, Andrew Tyrie, said that phrases like "rather convoluted" and "top-sliced" were removed from the OBR's analysis after the emails.During the committee hearing, its chair, Andrew Tyrie, said that phrases like "rather convoluted" and "top-sliced" were removed from the OBR's analysis after the emails.
Mr Chote said "Drawing a line between fact and interpretation is a difficult one to do. Personally I am relaxed about the idea if particular officials - in this case we are dealing here with a fairly junior official - want to offer us unsolicited drafting advice. I think we would be in a fairly weak state if we were not able to be robust about this.Mr Chote said "Drawing a line between fact and interpretation is a difficult one to do. Personally I am relaxed about the idea if particular officials - in this case we are dealing here with a fairly junior official - want to offer us unsolicited drafting advice. I think we would be in a fairly weak state if we were not able to be robust about this.
"At the end of the day we write what we want.""At the end of the day we write what we want."