Data Sharing Agreement for Population and Migration Statistics between Social Security Department and Statistics Unit

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 20 December 2013:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2013-0136
Decision Summary Title	Data sharing between Social Security Department and the Statistics Unit		Date of Decision Summary:
Decision Summary Author:	Head of Governance, Social Security Department		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title	Data sharing agreement between Social Security Department and the Statistics Unit		Date of Written Report:	19th December 2013
Written Report Author:	Chief Statistician		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Signing of a data sharing agreement between Social Security Department and the Statistics Unit
Decision(s): Following discussions with the Chief Minister, the Minister for Social Security approved a data sharing agreement between the Social Security Department and the Statistics Unit for the exchange of information required to produce population and migration statistics.
Reason(s) for Decision: MD-C-2013-0129 approved the forwarding of law drafting instructions to amend the Census (Jersey) Law 1951 to allow a defined and limited amount of departmental administrative data to be shared with the Statistics Unit to enable an electronic approach to the population census to be undertaken based on administrative data sources, in addition to the traditional questionnaire-based census approach. The attached data sharing agreement defines limited data sharing between the Statistics Unit and the Social Security department to enable the Statistics Unit to progress the development of the methodology in using departmental administrative data in order to establish the size, structure and migration dynamics of the resident population.
Resource Implications: Financial: there are no financial implications Manpower: there are no manpower implications
Action required: The Minister for Social Security to sign a Data Sharing Agreement with the Chief Minister in respect of the restricted sharing of relevant information.
Signature:		Position: Minister for Social Security
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):