Implementing the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics Session 1

1. Implementing the Fundamental Principles of Official StatisticsSession 1 UNECE Conference of European Statisticians June 2012 Jil Matheson, National Statistician, United Kingdom

2. Introduction (1) – The Fundamental Principles (1-5) 1. Official statistics are to be compiled and made available impartially as public information. 2. Decision-making according to strictly professional considerations. 3. Correct interpretation through application of scientific standards. 4. Statistical agencies entitled to comment on erroneous interpretation and misuse 5. Drawing data from all types of sources.

3. Introduction (2) – The Fundamental Principles (6-10) 6. Individual data are strictly confidential and used only for statistical purposes. 7. Laws and measures for operation of statistical systems are made public. 8. Coordination of national statistical agencies is essential 9. International standards promote consistency and efficiency 10. Bilateral and multilateral cooperation contributes to improvements in all countries

4. Review of papers – Implementation straightforward? • 3. Correct interpretation through application of scientific standards. • 6. Individual data are strictly confidential and used only for statistical purposes. • 7. Laws and measures for operation of statistical systems are made public. • 9. International standards promote consistency and efficiency • 10. Bilateral and multilateral cooperation contributes to improvements in all countries • .

5. Straightforward implementation - Good practice FP3 Publication of information about metadata and quality management systems (Azerbaijan) FP6 Working to embed statistical law amongst the actors within and outside the statistical system (Romania) FP7 Positive impact upon its relationship with the public of an NSI becoming independent (Georgia) FP9 Introduction of Quality Assurance Framework (Eurostat) FP10 Outcomes of Global Assessment of NSI contributing to development of long term strategies (Ukraine)

6. Straightforward implementation – key questions • Identify what you did that made implementation a success? • How do you propose to sustain/ build upon this success?

7. Review of papers – Significant implementation challenges? 1. Official statistics are to be compiled and made available impartially as public information. 2. Decision-making according to strictly professional considerations. 4. Statistical agencies entitled to comment on erroneous interpretation and misuse. 5. Drawing data from all types of sources.

8. Review of papers – (Principle 1) Official statistics are to be compiled and made available impartially as public information. • Political pressure on official statistics systems • Development of measures of trust, including assessment systems • Role of user engagement • Value of investing in good statistical storytelling

9. Principle 1 – key questions • How can user engagement contribute to building trust in official statistics? • Would the introduction of an assessment regime make a difference to the legitimacy of official statistics?

10. Review of papers – (Principle 2) Decision-making according to strictly professional considerations • Use of international pressure to impose independence • Adaption of national charters to commit governments to Fundamental Principles? • National laws to protect NSIs from political interference • Self-assessment against the FPs, standard tools? • ‘Retaining trust’ – trust v ‘trustworthiness’

11. Principle 2 – key questions • How can an NSI help itself against unwelcome political interference in its official statistics system? • Is there a role for international organisations in that endeavour? If so, explain.

12. Review of papers – (Principle 4) Statistical agencies commenting on erroneous interpretation and misuse • Regulation, including a role for an independent arbiter? • Role for an international code in dealing with situations of abuse?

13. Principle 4 – key questions • Identify the barriers that prevent an NSI from commenting on misuse of statistics.How are they overcome? • What does an NSI do to make sure that preventing misuse of official statistics improves their trustworthiness?

14. Review of papers – (Principle 5) Drawing data from surveys and administrative records • Some countries have very limited access to admin sources • Lack of influence on the design and development of admin sources • Be smarter in thinking how to optimise use once we have access?

15. Principle 5 – key questions • How can an NSI improve its ability to access administrative sources for statistical purposes? • What improvements need to be made to administrative sources to make them more useful to statisticians?

16. Review of papers – Other important questions • How does NSI manage tensions between statistical law on confidentiality and others requiring data to be disclosed? • How does an NSI improve the capability of its human resources in a time of economic restraint?

17. Summary of key questions (1) • Identify what you did that made implementation a success? • How do you propose to sustain/ build upon this success? xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx • How can user engagement contribute to building trust in official statistics? • Would the introduction of an assessment regime make a difference to the legitimacy of official statistics? • How can an NSI help itself against unwelcome political interference in its official statistics system? • Is there a role for international organisations in that endeavour?

18. Summary of key questions (2) • Identify the barriers that prevent an NSI from commenting on misuse of statistics . How are they overcome? • What does an NSI do to make sure that preventing misuse of official statistics improves their trustworthiness? • How can an NSI improve its ability to access administrative sources for statistical purposes? • What improvements need to be made to administrative sources to make them more useful to statisticians? • How does NSI manage tensions between statistical law on confidentiality and others requiring data to be disclosed? • How does an NSI improve the capability of its human resources in a time of economic restraint?

19. Implementation of Fundamental Principles – broader questions • Is there a need to adapt processes to facilitate easier implementation? • What needs to be done to raise the profile of the Fundamental Principles in order to improve their penetration? • What scope is there to better align the Fundamental Principles with other professional or ethical codes?