Conclusion 7

The need for immediate consolidation and prioritisation is a legitimate response to the short-term problems the ONS faces. It is essential in rebuilding trust with its key stakeholders. Nonetheless, there is a risk that this approach leads to stagnation, with projects sat in the ONS’ “waiting room” indefinitely. Experience has shown that the ambition of the ONS has not always matched its capacity. The “waiting room” cannot be a mechanism for avoiding decisions about priorities, with demands for new work simply parked until an unspecified time in the future. We expect to see clear evidence of projects moving out of, as well as into, the “waiting room”. (Conclusion, Paragraph 43)