18 February 2021
The Chief Minister has asked the Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture, Deputy Kirsten Morel, to chair a steering group which will develop improvements to Jersey’s statistics legislation.
The steering group will review the arrangements for statistical regulation and the production of statistics by Statistics Jersey and other public authorities to develop proposed amendments to the Statistics and Census (Jersey) Law 2018, with the aim of lodging them with the States Assembly by the end of this year.
Deputy Morel said: “I am pleased the Chief Minister has asked me to lead this important project and I have asked Senator Tracey Vallois to join me on the steering group, as I know she is very interested in ensuring the independence and integrity of Statistics Jersey and of statistics produced across government and other public authorities.
“We want to ensure the public can have a high level of trust and confidence in these key statistics, which are vital for policy making as they provide the government, organisations and indeed all islanders, with crucial data about our community, upon which we base major decisions about our future.
“We both look forward to helping ensure that Jersey’s statistical system is underpinned by a strong legal and institutional framework, which guarantees professional independence. Importantly, these changes will need to stand the test of time.”
Senior representatives from Statistics Jersey have been invited to advise the group. Gailina Liew, the Chair of the Statistics Users Group, which is the independent body with responsibility for overseeing the quality, relevance and integrity of statistics compiled by Jersey public authorities, will also provide input into the steering group’s work.
Gailina Liew said: “I am pleased to have been asked to represent the Statistics Users Group on this steering group. This is an opportunity to improve Jersey’s statistics legislation so that it conforms to international best practice standards.”
Over the next few months, the group will consult with both producers and users of official statistics before forming legislative proposals later this year.
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