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The Statistics Act
The Statistics Act is the primary piece of legislation that governs statistical activities conducted by the Singapore Department of Statistics and gazetted Research and Statistics Units (RSUs) in the public sector.
It safeguards the confidentiality of information collected from individuals and companies and spells out the legislative authority and responsibilities of the Chief Statistician and directors of gazetted RSUs.
Structure of the system
The decentralised statistical system meets users’ needs for comprehensive economic and social statistics. It fosters closer contact and greater interaction between statistical personnel and data users, leading to more relevant statistics being collected and analysed.
Through leveraging administrative records, a larger range of statistics can be compiled on a more timely and cost-effective basis.
With statistical personnel specialising in subject matters, DOS and the RSUs can focus on providing quality statistics, contributing to the high standard of professionalism in the Singapore statistical system.
The decentralised system is complemented by:
- Greater coordination of statistical activities and adoption of common standards through the co-ordinating role played by DOS to minimise duplication of work and reduce respondent burden.
- Frequent discussions with relevant agencies on statistical matters.
- Legislative and administrative changes which promote the adoption of national statistical standards.
DOS
- National statistical authority responsible for official statistics on the Singapore economy and population
Gazetted RSUs
- Responsible for statistics on specific subject matters under the parent ministry’s purview
- Empowered to issue requisition for data under the Statistics Act
Non-Gazetted RSUs
- Responsible for statistics on specific subject matters under the parent ministry’s purview
- Collect data under administrative regulations or other Acts
Benefits of the decentralised statistical system
The decentralised statistical system meets users’ needs for comprehensive economic and social statistics. It fosters closer contact and greater interaction between statistical personnel and data users, leading to more relevant statistics being collected and analysed.
Through leveraging administrative records, a larger range of statistics can be compiled on a more timely and cost-effective basis.
With statistical personnel specialising in subject matters, DOS and the RSUs can focus on providing quality statistics, contributing to the high standard of professionalism in the Singapore statistical system.
The decentralised system is complemented by:
- Greater coordination of statistical activities and adoption of common standards through the co-ordinating role played by DOS to minimise duplication of work and reduce respondent burden.
- Frequent discussions with relevant agencies on statistical matters.
- Legislative and administrative changes which promote the adoption of national statistical standards.