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A New Zealander at the Helm of British Official Statistics

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A New Zealander at the Helm of British Official Statistics Focus on Member States S IGMA 2/2000 46 en Cook, 50, formerly To oversee a major reorganisation of its official statistics, the United LGovernment Statistician in Kingdom spared no efforts to find the right man for the job. In the end, New Zealand, landed in London at the end of May and the search was called off when New Zealander LEN COOK signed has already taken the first step on as the United Kingdom’s first National Statistician. towards fulfilling his mandate. In addition to being the UK’s first National Statistician, Cook also takes over as Director of A New Zealander at the Office for National Statistics (ONS), where he suc- ceeds Tim Holt, and as the helm of British Registrar General for England & Wales. Holt, who was direc- tor for nearly five years, first of official statistics the Central Statistical Office mation technology”, has and then of the ONS, will be Len Cook, the been chief executive of returning to the University of UK's new first Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) Southampton where he was since 1992. Before that he formerly deputy Vice- National was Deputy Government Chancellor. Statistician Statistician. During his nearly describes him- 30 years with SNZ, he has National Statistics been active in implementing on the move self as a new management forms and "strong processes, and in upgrading The appointment of a National public statistical services – Statistician follows the widest articulator of including Internet, media and debate on official statistics in new directions research services. He has the UK for at least 30 years. been actively involved in a Cook’s arrival coincides with in official variety of professional bodies the setting-up of a Statistics statistics" in New Zealand, and has Commission to oversee the been a member of the Royal integrity of National Statistics, for three years with the option A turning point Statistical Society since a hallmark that would guaran- of extending it or permanent 1973. tee high standards of data col- The new National Statistician appointment, Cook under- lection, processing and dis- has a wide-ranging back- took a week-long fact-finding Cook has also contributed to semination. Sir John Kingman, ground in managing both mission to London, where he many advisory groups a former president of the Royal economic and social statistics met opinion-formers in the sta- involved with public policy in Statistical Society, has been – including population cen- tistical community and senior New Zealand; he was a named chairman of the com- suses – as well as a formida- figures in government. ”In my member of a royal commis- mission. ble international reputation. meetings,” he summed up, ”I have found a strong reservoir sion on social policy, and an In his preface to the White ”I am delighted to be coming of goodwill towards ONS, adviser to government task Paper spelling out the govern- to ONS at such a significant and consistent thinking on forces and reviews on taxa- ment’s plans for official statis- turning point for UK official sta- what we need to do to build tion, superannuation, social tics, British Prime Minister tistics”, he said. ”Internation- on that.” science research, and popu- Tony Blair summed up the ally, it is a progressive time for lation policy. overall objective: ”Our aim is official statistics, and the UK is ”A strong articulator to build a platform that will clearly sharing that spirit. I During his stay in Britain, establish the UK as a world have followed the changes of of new directions” Cook hopes to find time to leader in the provision of recent years in the UK, and pursue his leisure interests, quality statistical information look forward to helping further The New Zealander, a pro- which include fly-fishing, hik- – statistics based on high pro- the good work.” fessional statistician who ing, travel and languages. fessional standards and describes himself as a ”strong He and Shirley, his partner acknowledged to be honest, Following the announcement articulator of new directions of 20 years, have no chil- dependable and accessible.” of his appointment, which is in official statistics and infor- dren. I.
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