Committee publication · Correspondence · 16 December 2025
Letter from Rt Hon Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on appointment of the new Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, dated 4.12.25
From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Summary
Darren Jones informs the PACA Chair that the Cabinet Office has closed the current recruitment campaign for a new Chair of the UK Statistics Authority. The decision prioritises sequencing the National Statistician appointment first and awaiting the committee's inquiry recommendations before relaunching recruitment in 2026. Penny Young will continue as interim Chair.
Key findings
- Current UKSA Chair recruitment campaign has been closed
- National Statistician appointment will be sequenced ahead of new Chair recruitment
- Cabinet Office will await Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee recommendations from its live UKSA inquiry before relaunching recruitment in 2026
- Penny Young to remain as interim Chair pending new appointment
Tone
ProceduralTopics
public-administrationgovernancestatistics
Key actors
Darren Jones, Simon Hoare, Penny Young, UK Statistics Authority, Cabinet Office
Notable line
“I believe it is important to first sequence the appointment of the National Statistician and wait for your committee's recommendations from your live inquiry into the UKSA before launching a new campaign in”
Key Quotes
“After careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to close the current recruitment campaign.”
“Penny Young has kindly agreed to remain in post as interim Chair until we appoint a new Chair.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗