As of the 1st April 2008 the Office for National Statistics (ONS) was converted from a Government agency to an independent organisation.  The Office for National Statistics  is now the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority. 

In conjunction with this conversion, the Office for National Statistics has a newly designed website . Access to the ONS website is now via the UK Statistics Authority website.   The function and the search tools used to locate statistical information on the ONS website have not been altered. 

More information in the LIS Guide to the ONS site: http://www.swan.ac.uk/media/Media,22682,en.pdf