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UK Statistics AuthorityNewsUK Statistics Authority Welcomes the Appointment of Head of Assessment

The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Richard Alldritt as Head of Assessment, UK Statistics Authority.

The Head of Assessment is the principal adviser to the UK Statistics Authority on the scrutiny of official statistics in pursuit of the Authority’s objectives.

Sir Michael Scholar, Chair of the Authority, said:

“The UK Statistics Authority welcomes Richard Alldritt’s appointment to this important new post. Richard was a very successful Chief Executive of the outgoing Statistics Commission, and brings a wealth of highly valuable experience to this new role.”

Notes to Editors:

  1. The Head of Assessment is a new statutory post, created by the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. This appointment has been made following an open competition and advertisement.
  2. The UK Statistics Authority is a new body, independent of government, set up to promote and safeguard the quality of official statistics that serve the public good, in order to rebuild public trust in them. Further information about the Authority is at www.statistics.gov.uk.
  3. Richard Alldritt was chief executive of the Statistics Commission from 2003 to its close in 2008. He is a former Chief Statistician in the Welsh Assembly Government and a career statistician with wide experience in the management of statistical services. He is 53 years old and lives in London.
  4. The level of trust in official statistics is currently very low in Britain, recognised by Government through the introduction of the legislation, with all-party support in both Houses of Parliament, and support from the devolved Administrations, to establish the new Authority. A recent survey released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 17 March 2008 found that only one in five people think figures are compiled without political interference. The UK came 27th out of 27 in a recent survey within European countries of trust in their Governments’ statistics.
  5. Sir Michael Scholar KCB was appointed Chair of the new Authority in September 2007 in open competition, and with Parliamentary approval under the new procedure. He is President of St John’s College, Oxford. He has been a governor of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research since 2001. Previously he was Permanent Secretary to the Department of Trade and Industry (1996 to 2001), Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Office (1993 to 1996) and Private Secretary to the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (1981 to 1983).
  6. The non-executive members of the authority were appointed in open competition and are:Lord Rowe-Beddoe of Kilgetty (David Rowe-Beddoe), who will occupy the Deputy Chair post with responsibility for the governance of the Office for National Statistics.Professor Adrian Smith FRS, who will occupy the Deputy Chair post with responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the production and publication of all official statistics across the UK.

    Professor David Rhind CBE, FRS, FBA who was Chairman of the Statistics Commission and was Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the City University in London until July 2007. He is a non-executive director of the Bank of England’s Court of Directors, and until 1998 was Director-General of the Ordnance Survey.

    Partha Dasgupta who is currently Chief Executive of the Pension Protection Fund and a former Managing Director at Barclays Global Investors. Sir Alan Langlands FRSE who is Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee. He was Chief Executive of the National Health Service in England 1994- 2000.

    Moira Gibb CBE who is Chief Executive Officer of Camden Borough Council.

    Professor Steve Nickell CBE, FBA who is Warden of Nuffield College, Oxford. He was a member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee from June 2000 to May 2006.

  7. The Authority also includes three executive members. These are: the National Statistician, Karen Dunnell; the Head of Assessment, Richard Alldritt; and the ONS Finance Director, Steve Newman.
  8. The postal address for the UK Statistics Authority is, Statistics House, Tredegar Park, Newport, NP10 8XG.

For more information or further comment from Richard Alldritt please contact David Mencer on 020 7261 8645 or 07970 795693