A NEWPORT MP has criticised a report by a leading economist which claimed the quality and effectiveness of the Office of National Statistics had fallen since it moved to the city in 2007.

Last month a report into the ONS by Sir Charles Bean was published, in which the economist said some elements of the service had worsened since moving to Newport. Among Sir Charles’ recommendations were for the organisation to “increase its London profile”.

But speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, April 26, Newport West MP Paul Flynn criticised the report.

Mockingly referring to Sir Charles as “Mr Bean” the long-serving Labour MP said: “It is as easy for me to communicate with my office in these buildings as it is with my office 140 miles away (in Newport) and it doesn’t really matter with modern communications where offices are located.”

Chairman of the UK Statistical Authority Andrew Dilnot replied the move had “certainly caused some dislocation”.

“It is very important that all of our activities both in Newport and in London are connected into our core users and because of that and because of the concentration of users of economic statistics in London there is also a case for having a London presence,” he said.

“Not as a substitute in any way for our presence in Newport but as a compliment.”

Mr Flynn replied: “Aren’t you aware of the magnet of the statistical establishment in London that has always resented, from the time of the relocation, because of the fact that the jobs went outside of London?

“Does it make sense to try and get people back into polluted (central London area) Pimlico with sky high house prices with long commuter distances rather than allow them to develop in the glorious broad green acres of Gwent?”

Mr Dilnot said the ONS was planning on recruiting around 80 new economists at the Newport office this year.

“There is no suggestion of moving people from Newport back to London,” he said.

Saying he was “baffled” by concerns around the agency’s location, Mr Flynn said: “How can it make you better connected?

“It makes no difference now.

“We are all wonderfully connected by the miraculous technology we have got.

“The idea of a location in an area is a very old fashioned one but it suits the statisticians and the journalists and the think tanks to feel that we are all cosy together in London and it doesn’t matter what happens out in the sticks in Scotland or in Wales.”

Another report published last year said there had been a “detrimental” effect on the organisation since its move to Newport.

But minister responsible for the ONS Matthew Hancock has denied there are plans to move away from the Newport site, which employs 2,000 people.