Presenting statistics to press and public: The British experience since reorganization of the Central Statistical Office in July 1989

Abstract

In April 1989 the then Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher, announced measures designed to achieve a significant improvement in the quality and relevance of government economic statistics. This led to an enlarged Central Statistical Office which became a separate government department. It took over responsibility for most of the United Kingdom's economic statistics, including the over-seas trade figures and the retail prices index. It quickly emerged that dissemination of statistics would be a priority. In particular there was pressure on the CSO to get its press relations absolutely correct from the start.

The paper examines how the operation was carried out and has developed. It also looks at the publications policy inherited from the old CSO and other departments and possibilities for future improvements.

It can be seen that the creation of the new CSO led to a radical re-examination of how Britain disseminates its official statistics. This involved introducing new and innovative practices and is in keeping with the declared intention of the Central Statistical Office becoming one of the Government's new-style executive agencies. These are being formed under what is called the “Next Steps” policy aimed at providing a sharper focus and emphasis on the way government delivers its services to the public and other customers.