20 STATISTICS
(a)
(26419)
6924/05
COM(05) 71
(b)
(26595)
9461/05
COM(05)217
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Draft Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No. 3605/93 as regards the
quality of statistical data in the context of the excessive deficit procedure
Commission Communication on the independence, integrity and
accountability of the national and Community statistical authorities
Commission Recommendation on the independence, integrity and
accountability of the national and Community statistical authorities
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| Legal base | (a) Article 104(14) EC; consultation; QMV
(b) Article 211 EC; —; —
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| Department | (a) Office of National Statistics
(b) HM Treasury
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| Basis of consideration |
Minister's letter of 6 December 2005 |
| Previous Committee Report |
HC 34-viii (2005-06), para 18 (2 November 2005)
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| Discussed in Council | 8 November 2005
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared (decision reported on 2 November 2005)
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Background
20.1 In November 2005 we cleared from scrutiny a draft Regulation,
document (a), which is designed to address both the quality of
statistical data used in the context of the Excessive Deficit
Procedure[63] and the
operational capacity of the Commission on statistical matters
and a Communication and Recommendation, document (b), in which
the Commission addressed a third area for action — establishing
Community-wide standards to reinforce the independence, integrity
and accountability of national statistical authorities. But we
asked the Government for a response to the previous Committee's
suggestion that the Government demand of the Commission the impact
assessment required for the sort of proposal in document (a).[64]
The Minister's letter
20.2 The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (John Healey) writes
now to tell us of the action the Government took on the suggestion
of our predecessors. He says in Council Working Group meetings
on the draft Regulation in document (a) the Government repeatedly
asked the Commission, without any support from other Member States,
for an impact assessment for the proposal. The Commission response
was that such an assessment was not required since they are usually
associated with the reduction or prevention of disproportionate
burdens on businesses or individuals. The Minister says that,
since the proposal does not impose costs directly on businesses
or individuals and even though an assessment would have been desirable,
the Government is satisfied that the Commission has met its obligations
in this case. He adds that as far as the burden on national governments
is concerned the Government, as Presidency, secured an agreement
that experts from national statistical institutes would participate
in methodological visits on a voluntary basis only.
20.3 The Minister takes the opportunity to tell us that, as anticipated,
the Council reached agreement on the draft Regulation on 8 November
2005. He says also that the Council reached agreement then on
proposals in document (b). It was agreed that:
- there should be a high level advisory body to enhance the
independence, integrity and accountability of Eurostat and of
the European Statistical System (ESS);
- the body should comprise a small group of people
appointed on the basis of their independence and competence and
be chaired by an influential and well regarded person selected
by the Council; and
- the body will draw up an annual report for the
Council and the European Parliament on the implementation of the
European statistics code of practice as it relates to Eurostat
to complement the implementation report on the ESS to be produced
by the Commission.
The Minister comments that the new body will enhance
the independence, integrity and accountability of Eurostat and
also, with peer review assessment for implementing the European
statistics code of practice, the ESS.
20.4 The Minister continues that as well as discussing
the new advisory body the Council also considered efforts to rationalise
the administrative burden associated with statistical regulations.
It endorsed the work of a Eurostat task force recently set up
to work on this and called on the Commission to focus on putting
into practice improvements, in particular reducing the burden
on small and medium-sized enterprises. The Minister comments that
this is an important development as it will help reduce the burden
on respondents, simplify legislation and free up resources for
new statistical developments. He asserts it complements the Government's
better regulation agenda.
Conclusion
20.5 We are grateful to the Minister for this
information. We note the disappointing response of the Commission
to the Government's calls for an impact assessment on the draft
Regulation in document (a). As it is implicit in the Minister's
comments that there might be indirect costs for businesses or
individuals arising from the draft Regulation (we presume for
instance administrative costs passed on through taxation), we
urge the Government to continue to call for such assessments in
the future, even when they are not strictly required of the Commission
under the present arrangements.
20.6 As noted above both documents have already
been cleared.
63 Action, in relation to the Stability and Growth
Pact, under Article 104 EC and the relevant Protocol on an excessive
government deficit. Back
64
See headnote. Back
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