Committee publication · Correspondence · 9 December 2025
Letter from Josh Simons MP, Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office & Catherine Little CB, Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary & Civil Service Chief Operating Officer on follow-up written evidence - the work of the UK Statistics Authority, dated 27.11.25
From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Summary
Cabinet Office and Parliamentary Secretary Josh Simons respond to PACAC's follow-up questions on the UK Statistics Authority, covering ONS funding, board governance, the split National Statistician and new Permanent Secretary role, and the recruitment process. The letter confirms ONS has received real-terms funding increases since 2015–16, clarifies the lawfulness of current governance arrangements, and states the National Statistician post recruitment is now international.
Key findings
- ONS has received average annual real-terms funding increases of 6.5% since 2015–16 and workforce grew almost 20% between March 2020 and March 2025; no funding cuts have occurred.
- External board effectiveness review is underway led by Mo Baines (MHCLG Lead Non Executive), with results to be shared with PACAC.
- Cabinet Office confirms the temporary Permanent Secretary role at ONS (appointed August 2025 for two years) is lawful and was a Devereux Review recommendation accepted jointly by UKSA Board and Cabinet Office.
- National Statistician will remain CEO and Head of ONS, with Permanent Secretary delegated day-to-day leadership under sections 31–32 of the 2007 Act; next National Statistician recruitment is international following 4 November amendment.
- Updated Framework Document (2020 Memorandum of Understanding) currently under UKSA Board review; draft will be shared confidentially with PACAC in coming weeks.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Josh Simons MP, Catherine Little CB, Simon Hoare MP, UK Statistics Authority, Office for National Statistics, HM Treasury, Denise Lievesley, Mo Baines
Notable line
“The new Permanent Secretary is the Accounting Officer, a function held by the previous National Statistician. The 2007 Act makes no mention of Accounting Officer status.”
Key Quotes
“There are no plans to move the ONS out of Newport, where it has been headquartered for 20 years.”
“Ministers and civil servants are bound by the Ministerial and Civil Service Codes. Both are unequivocal that individuals in these privileged positions must not mislead Parliament.”
“The National Statistician will be accountable to the Board, as is the current acting National Statistician and Permanent Secretary.”
“We are satisfied that the current arrangements are lawful.”
“… the ONS may sometimes be simply attempting to deliver too many outputs which poses risks to quality.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗