Committee publication · Correspondence · 15 July 2025
Letter from Emma Rourke, Acting National Statistician at UK Statistics Authority on follow-up after oral evidence on the work of the UK Statistics Authority, dated 7.7.25
From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Summary
Acting National Statistician Emma Rourke provides follow-up detail to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee following oral evidence on 1 July 2025. The letter clarifies governance changes, leadership appointments, and psychological safety initiatives at the UK Statistics Authority's ONS division. It also annexes a March 2023 organisational development review by Labyrinth Coaching & Consulting examining psychological safety among 33 Senior Civil Service members, which found ineffective governance, overprogramming, and late reporting of work to senior leaders contributed to low psychological safety.
Key findings
- ONS commissioned psychological safety review (Jan–Mar 2023) covering 33 SCS members identified governance and decision-making as the primary barrier; 27 badged statisticians (30%) currently sit in SCS, with 22 at SCS1 level.
- Review found cyclical pattern: unclear strategic priorities → overprogramming → late sighting of work by seniors → over-robust reactions → fear narrative → reluctance to report issues early. Termed a 'dysfunctional myth' affecting culture.
- Actions taken post-review: streamlined governance structure, refreshed Speak Up framework (2024), webinar series on change management, internal 'Your Experience' employee engagement report (2024), and focused discussion on psychological safety at SCS away-day.
- Leadership role changes: Director for Operations role created on National Statistician direction following Second Permanent Secretary departure; Pete Benton covers Data Capability directorship (interim Feb 2024, then formal SRO role Apr 2024); Nigel Green brought in as fixed-term contractor (2 days/week) as IDP delivery lead.
- Review recommended four improvements: narrative awareness to dispel myths; dialogue-based leadership development; constructive/respectful feedback training (centred feedback, radical candour); and governance clarity to address perceived overprogramming.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Emma Rourke, Simon Hoare MP, UK Statistics Authority, Office for National Statistics (ONS), Labyrinth Coaching & Consulting, Pete Benton, Nigel Green, Alison Pritchard
Notable line
“5,000 people's brains do a better job than one. Without psychological safety you're paying for one brain.”
Key Quotes
“A lack of clarity around strategic priorities is likely to be the result of a governance structure which, as was frequently reported to us, is not seen as effective in making and communicating strategic decisions.”
“Senior leaders cast long shadows in organisations, and examples of calling people out in public quickly enter the organisational narrative …”
“… the point is about perception and subjective truth. As part of organisational storytelling – or myth-building – the long shadow of leadership is discussed, repeated and embroidered until it takes on a life – and therefore a truth – of its own and becomes part of the organisation's culture …”
“… as of June 2025, there are 27 badged statisticians (30%) within the SCS, of these 22 are at SCS1, 4 at SCS2, and 1 at SCS3.”
“… psychological safety is not: • about being nice, or about offering constant and untempered praise and support.”
“Clarity on strategic priorities, and especially on what no longer needs to be done, is the best way to reduce overprogramming.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗