STATISTICAL ADVISORY BOARD (14240/06)
Letter from the Chairman to John Healey
MP, Financial Secretary, HM Treasury
This proposal was considered by Sub-Committee
E (Law and Institutions) at its meeting of 13 December 2006.
We support measures to enhance the independence,
integrity and accountability of national and Community statistical
authorities and welcome the Commission's proposal.
We are interested to hear that concerns have
been raised by other Member States regarding the "tasks,
scope and membership of the Board". What are these concerns
and are they shared by the Government?
It seems to us that an important element of
the Board's work will be reviewing the activities of Eurostat
(a Directorate-General of the Commission) and advising the Commission
with regard to the implementation and updating of the European
Statistics Code of Practice. We therefore agree that it may not
be appropriate for the Commission to appoint the Board's chairperson.
Should the Council have exclusive say over the Board's chairperson?
Is there a role for the European Parliament here?
We have decided to hold the proposal under scrutiny.
14 December 2006
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