Office for National Statistics has ‘deep-seated’ problems and needs an overhaul

The Devereux Report criticised ‘a weak system of planning and budgeting’ at the Office for National Statistics. Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA

The UK’s main statistics body needs a £10m overhaul and its top role split in two after a series of management failings and errors that have plagued the organisation for several years, a scathing report has found.

The Devereux Review on performance and culture of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found “deep-seated” issues that called for radical measures and warned of the likelihood that past statistics would need to be revised.