A CRITIQUE OF THE RAWER REVIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT STATISTICAL SERVICE.

Thomas, Ray

There is no more reason for the Government to act as universal provider in the statistical field than in any other (Rayner 1980, 11). The aim of the Rayner review of the Government Statistical Service (GSS) was to ensure value for money. Rayner's own Report does not, however, include discussion of the value of government statistics, it does not discuss the possibility of devolution in the provision of services from central government, and neither (except through pricing of publications) does it discuss the possibility that services might be financed by bodies outside central government. The aim of this note is to relate these omissions to the procedures adopted in the review and in particular the brief given to study officers. It is suggested that the procedures adopted led Rayner to misconceive the functions of government statistics, that this led to the mistaken assertion that government has ‘real needs’ for data distinct from those of other organizations, and, as a result, that Rayner's Report failed to give consideration to the kinds of measure which would be most effective in meeting the review's aims of cutting costs and getting value for money in government statistics.

UNITED States; STATISTICAL services; INFORMATION services; STATISTICS; RAYNER, Derek George, Sir, 1926-1998; FEDERAL government

Public Administration, 1984, Vol 62, Issue 2, p224

0033-3298

Academic Journal

10.1111/j.1467-9299.1984.tb00559.x