04 June 2004
Whitehall's chief statistician has called for greater autonomy from parliamentarians in the wake of accusations that ministers have too much control over the way civil service data is used.
Len Cook, head of the Office for National Statistics, says the current level of autonomy that applies to his office is controlled as much by ministers as by the convention of independence.
He also points to 'severe constraints' over what the ONS can publish in the run-up to elections.
The criticisms appear in an article Cook has written for the Royal Statistical Society's journal, Significance. In it, he describes the degree of independence of the ONS as 'a mix of law, convention and ministerial statement'.
It follows claims by opposition parties that ministers have too much influence over the production and publication of ONS data, and an independent report on government communications, the Phillis Review, which called for greater autonomy for statisticians.
Back in April, shadow chancellor Oliver Letwin accused the government of attempting to cover up supposedly declining public service standards by changing the way in which they are measured. The Conservatives said ministers had been pressuring civil servants into 'proving' that government policies were working.
Sir Andrew Turnbull, head of the civil service, denied the charge, but there is resentment in some quarters of Whitehall about the way statistics can be influenced by politicians.
In his article, Cook makes it clear that he would prefer a system where ministers could no longer receive pre-publication access to ONS data.
He also claims that the legally enshrined autonomy enjoyed by statisticians in countries such as Norway, helps to 'strengthen informed democracy' by allowing them to publish a wide range of data on the economy in the run-up to elections – something the British system prevents.
In May, a separate report, by the independent Statistics Commission, called for changes in the way British data are managed 'to ensure official statistics can be trusted'.
It recommended the creation of a new, robust code of practice to be binding on all government departments.
Left-wing wins crucial leadership posts in PCS election
Elections to key posts in the Public and Commercial Services union, Whitehall's largest, have consolidated the strength of the organisation's Left-wing leadership.
Results for the union's national election ballots were disclosed on May 24, with representatives of the organisation's Democracy Coalition faction, Hugh Lanning and Chris Baugh, comfortably winning votes for the influential posts of deputy general secretary and assistant general secretary.
Lanning and Baugh beat off competition from moderates Graham Steel and David Newlyn and will provide political support to the PCS's Democracy Coalition general secretary Mark Serwotka.
The results will strengthen Serwotka's position as he fights the imposition of 'disappointing' pay deals across Whitehall. The union recently launched High Court proceedings against the Department for Work and Pensions over a controversial performance-related pay system.
The build-up to the vote had once again been characterised by bitter infighting between the organisation's traditional Left-wing and moderate camps.
Current PCS president Janice Goodrich was re-elected to the post. She said: 'We face a challenging year ahead on a number of fronts and I will ensure that PCS continues to serve the interests of members on a united basis.'
Meanwhile, PCS leaders will discuss possible responses to Sir Peter Gershon's imminent review of Whitehall efficiency in a public forum at the union's national conference in Brighton next week.
Unions fight plans to part-privatise forensic service
Whitehall unions will this week put to ministers a plan to keep the Forensic Science Service in public hands, following revelations that venture capital firms are monitoring government moves to part-privatise the agency.
A number of City-based firms are understood to have expressed interest in buying a stake in the FSS, which supplies forensic services to the Home Office and all police forces in England and Wales.
The government wants to raise vital cash to invest in forensics. Under existing plans the agency, which is currently a trading fund, would be converted into a government-owned company with 51%-75% of the shares later sold on the open market.
However, officials at the Prospect and Public and Commercial Services unions, which represent some 2,700 FSS staff, have pledged to fight any deal. They are meeting ministers to propose a 'viable alternative' – an independent, publicly owned company – because they fear rising prices and job cuts under private ownership.
Meanwhile, union officials at the FSS have confirmed they have delayed planned strike action over the FSS's 2003 pay deal until the week beginning June 8.
A walkout was scheduled for June 2, but employers claimed the unions had given insufficient notice.
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