Committee publication · Estimate memoranda · 29 April 2026
Main Estimates Memoranda 2026-27 - The Statistics Board
From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Summary
This memorandum sets out the UK Statistics Authority's (Statistics Board's) spending plans for 2026-27. Net Resource DEL spending is £469.0m, up 19.3% (£75.7m) from 2025-26, primarily due to £85m additional funding for the Census 2031 programme. Capital DEL is £22.1m. The Board oversees the Office for National Statistics, Office for Statistics Regulation, and Government Statistical Service.
Key findings
- Resource DEL budget increased by £75.7m (19.3%) to £469.0m, driven by Census 2031 funding of £85m from HM Treasury
- Capital DEL decreased by £1.6m (6.7%) to £22.1m due to budget cover transfers received in prior year not expected in 2026-27
- Resource AME increased by £3.8m (26.0%) to £18.2m, including £15.9m ringfenced depreciation now moved from Resource DEL
- No material changes from Spending Review 2025 settlement; Statistics Board targeting 5% cashable efficiencies by 2028-29 with 1% minimum technical efficiencies annually
- Census 2031 programme enters Design Validation and Early Development phase in 2026-27, with feasibility testing and March 2027 test census planned
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
UK Statistics Authority, Office for National Statistics, Office for Statistics Regulation, HM Treasury, Darren Tierney, Government Statistical Service
Notable line
“The collective mission of the official statistics system is to provide high quality data and analysis to inform the UK, improve lives and build the future.”
Key Quotes
“The Statistics Board is an independent government body that reports directly to the UK Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly.”
“The net Resource DEL proposed is £75.7m (19.3%) higher than last year. This is primarily a result of additional funding received from HM Treasury for the Census 2031 programme of £85m.”
“There are no reserve claims requested as part of the Main Estimate process.”
“The SR25 target is to deliver a total of 5% cashable efficiencies and savings by 2028-29 (with a minimum of 1% per annum to be classified as technical efficiencies), using 2025-26 funding as the baseline.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗