Posts by James Benford

Firmer footing: our latest update on our Surveys and Economic Statistics Improvement Plan

James Benford is Director-General for Surveys and Economic and Social Statistics at the Office for National Statistics.
Categories: Economy, Office for National Statistics, ONS
Data

Today we have published our third quarterly update on the improvement work underway in the ONS for surveys and economic statistics. The update reflects refined priorities, reset milestones and clarity about where activity must wait until constraints are resolved. James Benford explains that, while there is still much to do, putting quality ahead of quantity, and credibility ahead of volume, remains a guiding principle that is driving an ongoing recovery in economic statistics. 

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Learning from an operational issue temporarily impacting LFS data, in support of our continued recovery

James Benford is Director-General for Surveys and Economic and Social Statistics at the Office for National Statistics.
Categories: ONS
Data

Over the last year the ONS has been focusing resources on its headline economic statistics and progressing improvements, particularly on our complex labour market data. In line with our commitment to transparency at the earliest opportunity, James Benford updates on an operational issue which will temporarily impact data quality for the labour force survey from next month. James describes the immediate action taken and work in train on a wider lessons-learned exercise to ensure we both correct course and act to strengthen our operations to further progress the recovery of our statistics. 

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Making progress on improving UK financial statistics

James Benford is Director-General for Surveys and Economic and Social Statistics at the Office for National Statistics.
Categories: ONS

The International Monetary Fund has today recognised that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is fully meeting the Special Data Dissemination Standard Plus, the highest tier of IMF’s data standards.   James Benford and Rebecca Richmond reflect on the new data we are now publishing and how this lays the foundation for further improvements. 

Read more on Making progress on improving UK financial statistics

Making progress on improving UK economic statistics

James Benford is Director-General for Surveys and Economic and Social Statistics at the Office for National Statistics.
Categories: Economy, Labour Market, ONS, Surveys

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today published its second progress update on its Economic Statistics Plan (ESP) and Survey Improvement and Enhancement Plan (SIEP). The two plans were launched in June 2025 to improve the quality and long-term sustainability of the UK’s core economic statistics. James Benford reflects on a period of continuing tangible improvements, the challenges we have encountered and how we are responding across the breadth of work. 

Read more on Making progress on improving UK economic statistics