Records of economics and statistics divisions

Records of economics and statistics divisions relating to the collection and analysis of economic information and the provision of advice in support of the UK's development policy.

Records of the Statistical Services Department and successor are in OD 12, of the World Economy Division, in OD 32 and of the Economic Planning Staff in OD 41 (Geographical Division) and OD 44 (International Economics Division).

There have been a number of administrative divisions of the various international development departments which have been concerned with the collection and analysis of economic information and the provision of advice in support of the UK's development policy. A Statistical Services Department was originally part of a Geographical Division, (responsible for advice on country aid programmes, reviews, allocations and manpower forecasting), but became a distinct Division in 1966.

The Statistics and Geographical Divisions were initially separate in the Department's organisation from the Economic Planning Staff, but from 1971 these functions were controlled by the Economic Planning Staff, a core of qualified economists and statisticians.

The World Economy Division (from 1970 the International Economics Division) was concerned with global questions of the economic aspects of aid policy, including commodities and trade questions and the work of international organisations such as the United Nations and the European Economic Community.

From 1971 it too was placed under the control of the Economic Planning Staff. In 1980 the Economic Planning Staff were retitled as the Economic Service, and their division restructured into two parts, the Geographical and Statistical Divisions. In 1987 the Service was renamed the Economic and Social Division, its responsibilities having widened to include social aspects of economic development aid.