David Norgrove
{{short description|English businessman and government (born 1948)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = David Norgrove
| office = Chairman of the UK Statistics Authority
| honorific-prefix = Sir
| predecessor =Sir Andrew Dilnot
| successor =Sir Robert Chote
| primeminister = Theresa May
Boris Johnson
| termstart = March 2017
| termend = 31 March 2022
| office1 = Chairman of The Pensions Regulator
| successor1 = Michael O'Higgins
| termend1 = 2011
| termstart1 = 2005
| birth_name = David Ronald Norgrove
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1948|01|23}}
| birth_place = Peckham, London, England
| spouse = Jenny Norgrove
| children = 3 (2 daughters, 1 son)
| residence = Islington, North London
| education = Christ's Hospital
| alma_mater = Exeter College, Oxford
| occupation = Chairman of The Pensions Regulator
}}
Sir David Ronald Norgrove{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y14UAQAAMAAJ&q=%22david+ronald+norgrove%22|title=D&B Europa: 1994|last=Deeley|first=Alison|publisher=Dun & Bradstreet|year=1994|language=en}} (born 23 January 1948){{cite web|url=http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/n/21325/David+NORGROVE.aspx|title=David Norgrove Authorised Biography|work=Debrett's People of Today}} is an English businessman and government official, who was chair of the UK Statistics Authority from 2017 to 2022. He was previously the first chairman of The Pensions Regulator, and then chair of the Low Pay Commission.
Early life
Norgrove was born on 23 January 1948 in Peckham, London. He was educated at Christ's Hospital School and read History at Exeter College, Oxford. He gained a diploma in Economics at Cambridge University and then a master's degree in Economics at the London School of Economics.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/feb/20/norgrove-pensions-marks-spencer|title=Pensions watchdog whose quiet bark belies a powerful bite|last=Inman|first=Phillip|date=2009-02-19|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2017-01-20}}
Career
Norgrove started his career as an economist at HM Treasury (1972–85), where his time included a secondment to the First National Bank of Chicago.
Norgrove was private secretary to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher between 1985 and 1988.{{cite web |url=http://www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2004/dec/pens-1312-pens-reg.asp |title=David Norgrove announced as first chair of The Pensions Regulator |date=2004-12-13 |website=Department for Work and Pensions |publisher=HM Government |archive-url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20090605212347/http://www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2004/dec/pens-1312-pens-reg.asp |archive-date=2009-06-05}}
In 1988 he joined Marks & Spencer, where he held several positions:{{Cite web|url=http://www2.marksandspencer.com/thecompany/mediacentre/pressreleases/2000/com2000-09-18-01.shtml|title=MARKS & SPENCER ANNOUNCES NEW TOP MANAGEMENT TEAM|last=Marks and Spencer p.l.c.|date=2000-09-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320172125/http://www2.marksandspencer.com/thecompany/mediacentre/pressreleases/2000/com2000-09-18-01.shtml|archive-date=2007-03-20}} from 1988–99 he was Director of Europe; Worldwide franchising; Menswear and Strategy. In September 1999 he became chairman of Marks & Spencer's Ventures Division and a year later he was appointed to the executive board as executive director for Strategy, International and Ventures.
Norgrove was heavily involved in the early recovery of Marks and Spencer but in January 2004 he was fired from his role as director of clothing following poor Christmas sales. He continued in his position as chair of the trustees of the Marks & Spencer pension fund until later in the year, playing a role in the attempt by Philip Green to acquire the company.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2874075/MandS-fires-clothing-chief-over-Christmas-slump.html|title=M&S fires clothing chief over Christmas slump|last=Rankine|first=Kate|date=2004-01-15|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=2017-01-20}}
In March 2004 he was appointed to the board of the British Museum, later becoming deputy chairman.{{Cite web|url=http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page5542.asp|title=British Museum Trustees|date=2004-03-23|website=10 Downing Street|publisher=HM Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611010358/http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page5542.asp|archive-date=2007-06-11|access-date=2017-01-20|quote=The Prime Minister has appointed David Norgrove Esq to the Board of the British Museum. The appointment will be for a period of four years with effect from 23 March 2004.}} In November 2009 he became the Chairman of The British Museum Friends, where he retired as a trustee in 2012. He was a trustee of Amnesty International Charitable Trust from 2008 to 2014.{{Cite web|title=UK Statistics Authority chair appointment|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-statistics-authority-chair-appointment|date=20 January 2017|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Cabinet Office|language=en|access-date=2020-05-12}}
Norgrove was appointed as the first chair of The Pensions Regulator between 2005 and 2010 and subsequently named one of the hundred most influential people in the capital markets by Financial News.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fnlondon.com/|title=Financial News - Setting the agenda for the City|website=www.fnlondon.com|access-date=31 October 2021}} In 2011 he joined pension consultants PensionsFirst as chairman.{{Cite web|title=HSBC alumni in the City|url=https://www.ft.com/content/0cc1d796-a82a-11e0-9f50-00144feabdc0|last=Terazono|first=Emiko|date=7 July 2011|website=Financial Times|url-access=registration|access-date=12 May 2020}} From May 2009 until December 2016 he was the chairman of the Low Pay Commission.{{Cite web|title=Margaret Thatcher adviser takes role as Low Pay Commission chairman|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/mar/27/david-norgrove-low-pay-commission-chairman|last=Hencke|first=David|date=2009-03-27|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=2020-05-12}}{{Cite web|title=Bryan Sanderson appointed interim Chairman of the Low Pay Commission|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bryan-sanderson-appointed-interim-chairman-of-the-low-pay-commission|date=17 February 2017|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=2020-05-12}} In April 2017 he became chair of the UK Statistics Authority.
In 2022, Sir Robert Chote was selected to replace Norgrove as chair of the UK Statistics Authority.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sir-robert-chote-appointed-as-chair-of-the-uk-statistics-authority|title=Sir Robert Chote appointed as Chair of the UK Statistics Authority|publisher=GOV.UK|date=1 June 2022|access-date=22 June 2022}}
Family Justice Review
Norgrove chaired the Family Justice Review in 2011–12. This recommended substantial changes to speed up public law proceedings (cases concerning the protection of children) and to help family justice operate better as a system. In private law (divorce and separation) it recommended changes to help couples avoid the need to undertake court proceedings, for example increased use of mediation.{{Cite web|title=Family Justice Review panel publishes interim report|url=https://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed81756|website=Family Law Week|access-date=2020-05-28}} Most media attention was paid to a recommendation that there should not be legislation to create a presumption around parental involvement in children's lives after separation. This was controversial, particularly with groups campaigning for the rights of fathers, and has been interpreted by some as a recommendation that fathers should not have equal rights to children.{{Cite web|title=Family justice review 'a betrayal'|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/family-justice-review-a-betrayal-6256474.html|last=Johnson|first=Wesley|date=2011-11-03|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2020-05-28}}
In 2012, Norgrove was appointed as first chair of the Family Justice Board, which brings together the main agencies involved in family justice to promote change and reform of the system. He left the Board in mid-2016, since when it has been chaired by government ministers.{{Cite web|date=4 June 2018|title=Family Justice Board:Written question - 147779|url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-05-24/147779/|access-date=2020-05-28|website=UK Parliament|publisher=Ministry of Justice|language=en}}
= Criticism of the review =
The Norgrove Report extensively cited evidence from Australia, claiming that cases there showed that giving parents the legal right to a meaningful relationship with their children put them at increased risk of violence as well as increasing litigation. The evidence cited was later reviewed by Professor Patrick Parkinson of the University of Sydney, who presented his findings to the UK parliament's Justice Select Committee in December 2012. He noted the evidence showed litigation in child custody cases had decreased by a third, and stated that Norgrove's claim of the meaningful relationship provision putting children at an increased risk of violence was "without foundation".{{Cite news|last=Palmer|first=Alasdair|date=2012-05-26|title=The law should be helping a child to have two parents|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/9291621/The-law-should-be-helping-a-child-to-have-two-parents.html|access-date=2020-06-02|issn=0307-1235}} Parkinson concluded that: "almost none of the arguments made by the Norgrove Committee can be supported by the available evidence" and that the report "made a series of claims that had little or no factual foundation".{{Cite web |last=Parkinson|first=Patrick|s2cid=152311085|date=2 May 2012|title=Meaningful Reform of the Children Act 1989: Learning from the Australian Experience |url=https://s1d04c4f758aaa962.jimcontent.com/download/version/1340370219/module/5680408110/name/Australian%20evidence%20Prof%20Parkinson.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114154113/https://s1d04c4f758aaa962.jimcontent.com/download/version/1340370219/module/5680408110/name/Australian%20evidence%20Prof%20Parkinson.pdf |archive-date=2016-01-14}}{{Cite web|date=19 December 2012|title=Justice Committee - Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Children and Families Bill: Written evidence from Professor Patrick Parkinson, University of Sydney (CFB 12)|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmjust/739/739vw09.htm|access-date=2020-06-02|website=House of Commons}}
Dr Rob George of University College London's Faculty of Laws criticised Norgrove's comments as "extraordinary that the report identified that there would be 'worse outcomes' [for families] as a result of its reforms, but nonetheless proceeded with them without any modification."
George also criticised Norgrove's comments from the report which advocated a reduction in unnecessary litigation by "encouraging people to take greater personal responsibility for their problem" claiming that it was "doubtful that the decisions of your former partner to stop you seeing your children, or to deny you access to a fair share of the family assets, or to subject you to domestic abuse, are properly seen as 'personal choices' that you have made. Nor is it obvious that by avoiding court, you will be able to take 'personal responsibility' for resolving that dispute."
Further criticism of the review came from policy group The Centre for Social Justice, with the organisation's Gavin Poole stating: "Norgrove's refusal to acknowledge the importance of fathers and recommend a change to the law ignores the vast majority of public opinion and evidence about the devastating effect that absent dads have on children."{{Cite web |url=https://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/core/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Norgrove-response-03-11-11.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=3 June 2020 |archive-date=8 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908124926/https://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/core/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Norgrove-response-03-11-11.pdf }}
Personal life and honours
Norgrove is married to Jenny and they have two daughters and a son. He lives in Islington, North London and Combe, Berkshire.{{Cite web|url=http://www.accountancyage.com/aa/feature/1757075/running-clockwork|title=Running like clockwork|date=2005-04-19|website=Accountancy Age|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-20}}
He was knighted in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to the low paid and the family justice system.{{London Gazette|issue=61450|supp=y|page=N2|date=30 December 2015}}{{cite web|title=New Year's Honours 2016 list|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/489049/NY2016HonoursFullList.pdf|website=Gov.uk|access-date=30 December 2015|date=30 December 2015}}