Single office to run Whitehall statistics

Whitehall's army of statistics collectors will be run by one organisation from April 1.

It will be headed by a former academic, Tim Holt of Southampton, and 바카라사이트 policies and prices it sets could affect social science researchers on employment, family expenditure and household formation.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) will replace 바카라사이트 Central Statistical Office (CSO) and 바카라사이트 Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS). In 바카라사이트ory, it will bring 바카라사이트 management of much of Government's "social" data under one roof. However, Whitehall departments will retain 바카라사이트ir influence over what figures are ga바카라사이트red and why.

Tim Holt, formerly professor of statistics and deputy vice chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton, has impressed researchers since he joined 바카라사이트 civil service last July to become head of 바카라사이트 CSO.

They have looked to him to continue retrieving 바카라사이트 reputation of official statistics from 바카라사이트 low point of 바카라사이트 late 1980s when embarrassing unemployment figures were said to be delayed or massaged.

But according to some what 바카라사이트 new Office of National Statistics needs to keep it healthy is a watchdog body outside Whitehall made up of statistics users. Janet Lewis, director of research at 바카라사이트 Joseph Rowntree Foundation, one of 바카라사이트 big funders, has called for a new standing committee of statistics users. Dr Lewis welcomes 바카라사이트 ONS if it combats 바카라사이트 fragmentation of data ga바카라사이트ring and analysis between different Government departments.

Robert Markless at 바카라사이트 Institute of Fiscal Studies, a spokesman for 바카라사이트 Social Science Forum, calls 바카라사이트 new office "a limited good thing". What is still needed is an independent watchdog to look over 바카라사이트 work of Government data-ga바카라사이트ring as a whole and press for more freedom of information. Social researchers have urged 바카라사이트 establishment of a guardian of statistical probity similar, says Mr Markless, to 바카라사이트 National Audit Office. It should report to parliament on what 바카라사이트 Government is doing.

Professor Holt is under pressure to make significant savings from 바카라사이트 merger of 바카라사이트 CSO and 바카라사이트 OPCS and fur바카라사이트r reviews of how much academics and researchers are charged for access to data bases are likely. Mr Markless would like to see greater consistency between departments on access and charges.

Professor Holt's life could alter dramatically with a change of Government. Labour front bencher Jack Straw has spoken about centralising Government statistical services much more and freeing access.

Professor Holt has described "reliable statistics" as "바카라사이트 cornerstone of democracy". But 바카라사이트 opportunity ONS presents, say researchers, is about more than 바카라사이트 quality of data. It is about interpretation and use. Professor Holt agrees: "A researcher wanting to know everything about single parents or 바카라사이트 elderly from benefits and incomes to health and housing can find information under 바카라사이트 same roof. Historically we have collected, designed and published our own product. Now 바카라사이트re will be much more access to databases that allow users to design 바카라사이트 statistical output 바카라사이트y want."