You asked

I would like to know:

1) Has the Office for National Statistics considered whether or not the Malvern Hills Trust (MHT), (formerly known as the Malvern hills Conservators) is a public body?

2) If such consideration has been made, what was your conclusion? Is MHT a public body or is it not a public body?

3) If such a determination has been made, when was the determination made?

4) If such a determination has been made, have the reasons for the determination been made public?

5) If such a determination has been made, and the reasons for the determination have been made public, what were they?

6) Have you considered the public body status of other levy raising registered charities?

7) If you have considered the public body status of other levy raising registered charities what were they and what conclusions were reached in each case?

We said

​Thank you for your request. Here are the answers to your questions:

1. We have not considered the sector classification of Malvern Hills Trust (or Malvern hills Conservators).

When we consider the classification of a body, the decision is published on the Public Sector Classification Guide (PSCG). The PSCG is a list of bodies that we have been classified as public sector bodies within the National Accounts and is updated on a monthly basis.

2. We have not considered whether MHT is a public body or not.

The classification process and our responsibilities are set out on our website. Our classification process is not based on Cabinet Office guidance. We are the UK body responsible for classifying units and transactions in accordance with the international guidance in the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) and the accompanying Manual on Government Deficit and Debt (MGDD 2019), for the purposes of compiling the UK National Accounts and related statistics. This guidance is extensive and we are required to interpret it to ensure correct classifications of institutional units and transactions. Each classification decision is taken on the basis of the characteristics of the entity or transaction being analysed.

The UK government has chosen to base its departmental budgeting rules and fiscal aggregates on national accounts principles. Consequently, classification decisions by us have implications for departmental budgets and the fiscal measures used to monitor the public finances. We enjoy complete independence of government in deciding on the classification of units and transactions.

3. We have not considered the sector classification of Malvern Hills Trust and accordingly no determination has been made.

4. Not applicable

5. Not applicable

6. We do not hold this information. The Public Sector Classification Guide lists those bodies that have been classified, but we do not keep a record within the guide of whether a body raises levies or is a registered charity.

7. Not applicable