FDA WELCOMES REPORTS THAT ONS MAY DELAY LONDON CLOSURE

The FDA, the union representing senior managers and statisticians in ONS, welcomed reports in today’s Daily Telegraph that the Office for National Statistics may delay the controversial closure of its London office in recognition of a possible risk to statistical outputs.

FDA national officer for the ONS Ro Marsh said:
“The FDA welcomes any suggestion that the closure programme may be delayed to minimise the risks to statistical outputs. We believe the transfer of all statistical work to Newport cannot be achieved successfully. The ONS cannot survive the inevitable loss of experienced staff, including international experts, and will not be able to recruit and retain suitably qualified statistical staff to replace them.  Training new staff to be experts would take a much longer time than allowed under the current plans.”

Marsh emphasises that the FDA supports the move of some statistical activities outside of London, but is concerned about the impact on ONS outputs, particularly National Accounts, of the London office closure.

“The FDA does not oppose relocation of some activities away from London and recognises that some staff may wish to relocate, and has been working with ONS management to protect existing staff as far as possible. Many statistical activities are successfully delivered from the ONS in Newport and at other locations. However, the transfer of all statistical activities to Newport is a risk too far.

“The ONS has not demonstrated that it can recruit the 400 specialist statistical staff it requires in Newport.  Experienced staff, including internationally-recognised experts, are being forced to search for new jobs rather than uproot themselves and their families.

“We share the stated concerns of the Statistics Commission, the Royal Statistical Society and the Statistics Users Council on the risks to the quality of official statistics resulting from the relocation, and we believe that it could lessen the influence of official statistics within National Government.

“At the time when the Government is legislating for independence for national statistics, it is simply wrong to tie the hands of the future national Statistics Board on the key decision of the location of statistical activities.”

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Notes for Editors

1. The FDA presented evidence on the negative impact of cost cutting on the ONS and relocation of its London office to the Treasury Sub Committee on 9 May 2007 – more information is available here: https://www.fda.org.uk/Resource.phx/pubman/templates/18.htx?id=153
2. The debate on 2 May 2007 in the House of Lords on the Statistics and Registration Service Bill which centred, among other issues, on concerns about closing the London ONS office can be read here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldhansrd/text/70502-0013.htm#07050268000090
3. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing 17,000 of the UK’s senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, diplomats, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.
4. The FDA (formerly First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants’ union". 
5. For further information contact:

• Ro Marsh, national officer, 020 7401 5555
• Jessica Stark, FDA head of communications, 020 7401 5587 or 07967 484 441