30 October 2017
The Chief Minister has lodged a new Statistics and Census Law to safeguard independent statistical production in Jersey. This law replaces the existing non-statutory arrangements and enshrines the roles of Chief Statistician and Statistics Users Group in legislation for the first time.
The legislation will enable the census to be conducted in different ways in future. While a traditional census is expected in 2021, in future a census may be undertaken in other ways, whether by sampling, or by a rolling traditional census. This would be determined by the Chief Statistician.
The Assistant Chief Minister, Senator Paul Routier, said “The level and sophistication of official statistics in our Island is increasing all the time, helping us to make better decisions about Jersey’s future. A new census is due in 2021, a parallel e-census is already underway, and we’re hoping to conduct a new Income Distribution Survey soon. This law will ensure that all this work will be undertaken by professional statisticians whose independence is legally ratified.”
The Chair of the Statistics Users Group, Martin Richardson, said “We are pleased that a Statistics and Census Law is to be lodged with the States. It will strengthen the independence of the Statistics Unit, improve its ability to gather data and bring Jersey into line internationally.”
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