Councils are preparing to push back after the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed it was looking to slim down its sub-national statistics portfolio.
A Local Government Association (LGA) spokesperson said sub-national statistics were a ‘key evidence source', ‘underpin effective and efficient service planning by local authorities' and were ‘therefore crucial to local government'.
In a blog, the Centre for Cities think-tank said: ‘The ONS will always face trade-offs, but cutting subnational economic data to focus on core statistics is a mistake. Subnational data is core for national policymaking.
‘National policymaking needs subnational economic data to function effectively. Policymakers at every level of government need this information to make better decisions that achieve value for money for taxpayers and improve living standards for everyone.
‘By safeguarding and improving these statistics, the ONS can ensure that the UK has a clear, complete picture of its economy and that every place – not just the headline national average – is able to succeed.'
An ONS spokesperson said: ‘Our top priority is restoring the quality of our core statistics. Subnational statistics provide a critical evidence base for local decision making and increase the value of the ONS' wider outputs by reflecting them at the local and regional level. We are taking the opportunity to consider the breadth, sequencing and frequency of sub-national publications and development work in the run up to Census 2031, understanding what resource could be freed up in the near term.
‘We appreciate prioritisation of our statistics will impact some users, but we believe these are essential to enable greater focus on our core statistics.'
The LGA spokesperson said: ‘We will be working with ONS to ensure that they properly consult with local government and its partners, they fully understand the impact of any proposed changes, and that they identify and continue to support any data collections that are vital to local government.'
