UK launches probe into statistics office functioning

Blitz Bureau

THE British Government has launched an investigation into the effectiveness and delivery of official economic data published by the Office for National Statistics, which has come under fire for its unreliable labour market figures, reported Reuters.

The Cabinet Office and UK Statistics Authority have commissioned former senior mandarin Robert Devereux to carry out the review. Devereux is an ex-permanent secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Transport.

Devereux and will examine the structure, leadership and culture at the ONS, and look at the effectiveness of its sponsorship relationships with the Government and Treasury.

The probe will start soon and is expected to conclude in early summer. “This review is an opportunity to help ensure that the ONS can deliver of its best in what is a challenging external environment,” Robert Chote, chair of the UK Statistics Authority, said. “I am very grateful to Sir Robert for agreeing to lead it and the Authority Board looks forward to hearing his conclusions, drawing on the views of external stakeholders and ONS colleagues about what works well and what could be improved.”

In March, the ONS postponed publication of trade and producer price inflation datasets, adding to its struggles to fix problems with its labour statistics. The Bank of England relies on the ONS’ labour market statistics as part of its decision-making process interest rates. The data problems at the ONS, including the problems with its labour force survey, have made the fiscal forecasts the Office for Budget Responsibility presented at Spring Statement less certain, officials at the fiscal watchdog told MPs on April 1, according to Financial Times.

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