Today, Sir Robert Chote begins his five-year term as the new Chair of the UK Statistics Authority. He will step in as the Authority reflects on the first two years of its strategy, Statistics for the Public Good; and the Office for National Statistics releases the first results of Census 2021 in England and Wales.
“It’s a huge honour to be taking over from Sir David Norgrove as Chair of the UK Statistics Authority. Under his careful watch, official statistics have become more important, and better trusted, than ever before. I thank him for his years of service and I look forward enormously to working with the Board.
“As a journalist, researcher, forecaster and policy watchdog, I have been a consumer of official statistics throughout my career and have always valued the professionalism, integrity and expertise of those working right across the statistical system. Working with colleagues, statistics users, the Government and Parliament, I am determined to safeguard the integrity of the system and expand its capability in the years ahead,” said Sir Robert.
Notes for Editors:
- The post of Chair of the UK Statistics Authority is a Crown appointment, made with the approval of Parliament following a pre-appointment hearing before the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee on 29 March and a formal motion debated on the floor of the House of Commons on 25 April.
- Sir Robert Chote is appointed to succeed Sir David Norgrove whose five-year term of office ended on 31 March 2022, since when the interim Chair has been Sian Jones.
- The UK Statistics Authority is an independent body operating at arm’s length from government as a non-ministerial department, directly accountable to Parliament. It was established on 1 April 2008 by the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.
- The Authority’s statutory objective is to promote and safeguard the production and publication of official statistics that serve the public good. It is also required to promote and safeguard the quality and comprehensiveness of official statistics, and ensure good practice in relation to official statistics.
- For media enquiries, please contact press@statistics.gov.uk or call 07385 400 230
About Sir Robert Chote
- Sir Robert is a former head of the Office for Budget Responsibility and the Institute for Fiscal Studies and was Economics Editor of the Financial Times and the Independent. He is currently serving part-time as the first chair of the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council, an independent body created in 2021 to bring greater transparency and scrutiny to Northern Ireland’s public finances. He also chairs the external advisory group of the Parliamentary Budget Office in the Republic of Ireland.
- Robert was knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours list for services to fiscal policy and the economy