Transcript General

Statistics Iceland
Hallgrímur Snorrason
Applying the UN Fundamental
Principles
AITRS Seminar for Heads of CSO´s
Beirut, 2-3 September 2005
Applying the UN Fundamental Principles
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The FP´s are a very powerful tool, their great
value lies in their applicability
They are to be applied continuously in the
statistical system and by the NSI
Basis for statistical legislation
Pragmatic guidelines for everyday business
Clear and concise reference framework
Applying the UN Fundamental Principles
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The FP´s carry messages to four instances:
– For government - specify the conditions for
operations of the official statistical system
– For statisticians - provide sound guidelines for
professional and impartial practices
– For data providers - guarantee that data are
collected and used solely for a good purpose
– For users - are the framework for measuring the
quality of the official statistics
FP 1a: Statistics for democratic society
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Official statistics should serve all society with data
on economic, demographic, social and environmental
situation
Emphasis on broadness, coverage, equal access,
equal disclosure
Must not favour government – should cover all
groups; business, media, research, schools, public
Must be published, made known, advocated
FP 1b: Statistics should be of practical utility
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Useful and timely statistics
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Need to explain to users - educate users
User contact and consultation
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Abolish outdated statistics and series
Tell the users what we produce
Identifying different groups of users
Identifying user needs
For maintaining confidence in official statistics,
the NSI should be outward looking, deal in
applicable and practical things, be confident
enough to advocate use of its statistics
FP 1c: Official statistics must be impartial
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Fair and honest statistics
Not favouring any side
Not playing up to government
Not being seen to produce politically “correct”
statistics
Applying and advocating the FP´s is effective for
countering such criticism
FP 2-3: Professional independence
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NSI is a part of the government system
Consultations with government on priorities etc.
But independent in all professional matters
NSI decides on methods, standards etc., hires own
staff on professional grounds
Appointment of D-G on purely professional
grounds
FP 2-3: Professional impartiality
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Applying best methods and practices
Professional presentation of statistics
– Clear, neutral, no value judgements
– Emphasis on main issues, trends etc.
irrespective of political correctness
– Informing on sources, methods, procedures
– Explanation of all limitations
FP 2-3: Release calendars
Timing of release is sensitive, for politics,
business etc., emphasis on equal access
 Best practice: no advance government
access
 Second best: if advance access cannot be
avoided, that should be general knowledge
 Release calendars very effective for equal
access (also for internal management!)
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FP 4: Comments on misuse
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Both right and duty of NSI´s
Need for caution – four step approach
– Monitoring presentation and use of statistics
– Comment: major misuse, deliberate or recurrent
– If comment then without delay
– Proactive stance, how avoid in the future
Comments must be clear, concise, balanced
Offering explanations to media instead of issuing
comments or statements
FP 5: Choice of sources
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NSI´s to choose with respect to quality, timeliness,
costs and response burden
Quality at expense of timeliness or vice-versa?
Costs and response burden not competitive issues?
Different sources and methods:
– Conventional surveys – paper, CATI or internet
– Administrative records
– New methods – direct access, XML etc.
FP 5 has also messages to govt. and respondents
FP 6: Confidentiality of individual data
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NSI´s which do not keep data confidential may as
well go out of business
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Need to always ensure confidentiality
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Response rates will fall, data sources dry up
Quality of data will fall
Confidence in NSI will be eroded
Legislation, internal confidentiality rules, educating
staff, confidentiality pledges
Need to proclaim guarantee of confidentiality and
publish confidentiality measures
FP 6: Data for statistics is only for statistics
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Individual, identifiable data must not be handed
over to others
Caution as regards linking of files
No handing over of data to authorities, e.g. tax
authorities, control agencies, police etc.
Very clear principle: NSI´s may collect individual
data from persons, firms or registers but may not
grant access to or hand over such data
FP 7: Transparency of the statistical system
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Official statistics should be subject to laws and
regulations
Statistical legislation should contain all FP´s and
stipulate how these are to be practiced
Confidentiality should be a legal requirement
Laws and regulations should be made public
Useful to publish measures and provisions for
ensuring confidentiality
FP 8: Internal coordination and cooperation
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Coordination necessary to ensure efficient use of
budgetary resources
Coordinated approach to and interactions with
data providers
The system of official statistics should form a
coordinated whole, not be fragmented with
agencies competing for attention; this is important
for maintaining confidence
Official statistics should form a comprehensive set
and not render conflicting findings or series
FP 9: Use of internat. concepts, standards, methods
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NSI´s have everything to gain by adopting
international standards and methods, particularly
small or developing NSI´s
Saves money, we get part of the infrastructure and
statistical education for free
Helps comparability of statistics between
countries, our statistics will become more relevant
FP 2: Best methods and practices mean
international methods and practices
FP 10: International cooperation
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Underscores the gains of applying international
standards and methods
Official statistics are quite universal; same scientific
foundation, same phenomena are being measured,
international methods/practices are applied for
collecting, producing and disseminating statistics
Statistical profession is extremely international
Helps discussion and distribution of statistical
development, new methodologies, innovations
Important for professional development of our staff
Conclusions
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The UN FP´s form a whole and are nonnegotiable, individually and collectively
Strict adherence to FP´s may be difficult to start
with but easy to maintain once achieved
Professional and political autonomy of NSI is of
crucial importance
The cardinal rule: safeguarding confidential data
using statistical data only for statistical purposes
Practicing the FP´s is not sufficient; we must
proclaim and show and explain that we do so
Essential to apply international standards, methods
and best practices to ensure quality, relevance and
development