Independent review

Devereux ONS Review

Devereux Review of the Office for National Statistics performance and culture

Completed

Sir Robert Devereux KCB · Published 26 June 2025 · Commissioned by Cabinet Office Institutional

Externally-led review of the Office for National Statistics commissioned jointly by the Cabinet Office and the UK Statistics Authority in March 2025 to examine the causes of recent performance challenges in the production and dissemination of core statistics, major programme delivery, and leadership culture. The review makes 3 high-level recommendations: a focused effort to improve core statistics, changing how ONS is led by temporarily separating the National Statistician and Permanent Secretary roles, and using the turnaround period to reflect on appropriate governance of ONS and the wider statistical system. All 3 recommendations were accepted in the joint response published on the same day.

Report Government response

Government Response

All 3 recommendations accepted in the joint UK Statistics Authority and Cabinet Office response published 26 June 2025. James Benford appointed Director General of ONS Economic, Social and Environmental Group; formal recruitment launched for a new National Statistician.

26 June 2025

Recommendations

Recommendation 1

Office for National Statistics Accepted

Unsurprisingly, given the findings above, my first recommendation is that ONS needs a focused and consistent effort to improve core statistics: the statistical system is complex, and many elements need action, which has to be carefully sequenced; past actions appear to me to be too piecemeal, driven by individual failures.

Government response We agree with this recommendation and welcome the ONS' new strategy 'Restoring confidence, improving quality: the plan for ONS economic statistics'.

Recommendation 2

Office for National Statistics / Cabinet Office Accepted

My second recommendation, to support this new direction and strengthen delivery confidence yet further, is to change the way ONS is led. Since the passing of the relevant legislation in 2007, the National Statistician has also been the Permanent Secretary for ONS. These are quite different sets of skills: they have been found in the same individual before, but the combination is rare. I believe the balance of advantage now lies in separating these roles, at least for a temporary period, in order to appoint as ONS Permanent Secretary someone with a track record of leading an operational business, indeed of turning round such an organisation.

Government response We agree with the Review's conclusion that changes are needed in the way the ONS is led, how decisions are made and how risk is managed.

Recommendation 3

UK Statistics Authority / Cabinet Office Accepted

My third recommendation is that various parties use such a turn round period to reflect on the appropriate governance of ONS and of the wider statistical system, and if they conclude that legislation needs to change, to do so well before further appointments are needed.

Government response We agree and note that this was also a theme of the 2024 Lievesley Review.

No recommendations with this response.