New demography centre

1 November 2005

A new UK-wide National Statistics Centre for Demography is to be created.

It will be created within the Office for National Statistics and will work in partnership with all devolved administrations to deliver a UK-wide population statistics and demographic analysis work programme.

A UK Population Committee, including the Registrar General for Scotland, will agree and oversee its work programme.

George Lyon, Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform and Parliamentary Business said:

"Scotland stands to benefit from this new centre of demographic expertise. Novel and interesting things are happening to Scotland's population and it is important that we know exactly what is happening and understand why. Scotland will be involved in the work carried out by the centre and we look forward to seeing a fuller, picture emerge of the demography of Scotland and the UK."

The Centre, based mainly in London, will be set up on January 31, 2006, when the demographic work of the Government Actuary's Department will be transferred to the Office for National Statistics.

The transfer was recommended by the Morris Review of the Actuarial Profession (copy on HM Treasury website) conducted by Sir Derek Morris and published on March 2005.