ONS relocates from Whitehall to Wales

Newport in South Wales is to become the corporate headquarters for the Office for National Statistics, the country's prime source of statistical information about the economy, health and society.

It will also be the national centre for surveys and other sources of data, and have strong teams in statistical methodology and reporting.

National Statistician Len Cook announced the plan to all staff which concludes a period of investigation and consultation and is part of the organisation's modernisation programme.

The main business of the Newport national centre will be to provide: Business and household surveys; Economic and social analysis and reporting; Health statistics; Expertise in survey design and statistical methodology; And expertise in technology and information management for both development and operations.

The Newport national centre will carry out the full range of activities that would usually be seen at any other National Statistical Office across the world.

Overall, 400 posts are expected to transfer from ONS's London offices in Pimlico to Newport by March 2008. A further 100 posts are expected to transfer from London to ONS's Titchfield office in Hampshire in the same period. Also 200 posts currently in Titchfield will be transferred to Newport.

New work expanding statistical information for the regions will create several hundred new jobs in Newport; the build up to Census 2011 will create several hundred posts in Titchfield; and new work on improving measures of government productivity will create 40 posts in London.

Modernisation will reduce posts needed to support outdated systems and statistical tools but reductions at Newport will be more than offset by jobs coming from relocation and expansion of work. The first moves are expected to take place in early 2005 when 100 jobs will be created at Newport for social and economic analysis and reporting.

It is anticipated much of the adjustment will be taken up through normal staff changes such as retirement and the usual mix of people leaving for other jobs.

Mr Cook said: "Clearly, such changes will create anxiety among our staff. We will be avoiding compulsion to relocate wherever possible. We will manage as much as we can through voluntary relocation. We also expect to move many posts without the need to relocate people. Flexibility and working closely with our staff is the key.

"It is important to recognise too that there will be major benefits to the organisation and to the British public from this plan. Co-location of people working in similar areas will lead to better team-working and improve the production of statistics. We will be more able to meet the changing needs of our key users and the British public.

"This will strengthen the capacity of British statistics to meet the demands of the next decade through a responsive, timely and properly equipped statistical service. There will be wider access to more extensive reporting on issues that are important to the public, business and Government of the UK."

Relocation is part of an extensive modernisation and change programme for ONS involving £200 million investment over five years.

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