ONS to cut 1,000 jobs in efficiency shake-up
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MORE THAN 1,000 jobs are set to go at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as part of a wide-ranging shake-up of the agency, it emerged yesterday.
Announcing the recommendations of an independent efficiency review, Patricia Hewitt, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said there was scope for annual cost savings of up to pounds 20m at the ONS.
Ms Hewitt said she wouldconsult with trade unions before implementing the recommendations of the review, which included involving private sector firms in data collection and rationalising support services. An independent steering group, chaired by the Lloyds TSB chief executive Peter Ellwood, recommended that the ONS's 3100-strong workforce be reduced by one-third.
If the recommendations are implemented, 680 ONS jobs would transfer into the private sector, while another 350 would be eliminated altogether.
No redundancies should be necessary, according to the steering group, with natural wastage accounting for most of the reduction in head count. The departments most affected are likely to include personnel, finance, marketing and IT.
The steering group also recommended a shake-up in senior management at the agency, arguing that a strengthened management team and a new management structure would be needed to carry its proposals forward.
The ONS, which came under fire for its handling of controversial revisions to key earnings figures in the autumn, is also the subject of a series of separate reviews.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments