Independence for the Bank of England has been one of Gordon Brown’s most successful policy initiatives. Independence for the Office for National Statistics seems an equally admirable proposal. But independence for the Bank of England meant, broadly, what was said. Independence for the Office for National Statistics means, broadly, the opposite of what is said. What a difference ten years in office makes.
The current statistics and registration service bill was published at the end of last year, and had its second reading in parliament in January. It promises “a new independent statistics board, outside of ministerial control” for the ONS, which will include several non-government board members.
This legislation comes at the end of a 25 year period in which the credibility of all government information has been eroded. Episodes like BSE and the treatment of intelligence reports on Iraq mean that even ostensibly factual official statements can no longer be considered objective accounts of events.
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