Office for Statistics Regulation and UK Statistics Authority: Accountability
The question
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will review governance arrangements for the (a) UK Statistics Authority and (b) Office for Statistical Regulation to make them more accountable to Parliament.
Answered by Cabinet Office
As per the Statistics and Registration Services Act 2007 the UK Statistics Authority (which includes the Office for Statistics Regulation) is directly accountable to the UK Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd and the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) plays a formal role in overseeing the UKSA on behalf of Parliament, and is currently conducting a review into the Authority. The Committee meets with the UKSA leadership regularly. The Authority also presents its Annual report and Accounts to Parliament, most recently doing so on 9 July.
The relationship between UKSA and Parliament is codified in 2.2. of the 2020 Memorandum of Understanding between UKSA and Cabinet Office. This document is currently being revised and will be published, as a Framework Document, later this year. PACAC have reviewed the draft 2026 UKSA Framework Document.
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