SESSION: Code of practice: implementation and development

1. STATISTICS INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE 2 SESSION: Code of practice: implementation and development The implementation of the ES Code Of Practice in the National statistical System: the italian experience Marina Gandolfo, Elisa Parente and Susanna Terracina ISTAT Prague, 14th September 2009

2. Structure of Italian National Statistical System (SISTAN) Statistical Offices Public Central Administrations 17 Public bodies 21 Private bodies 8 Regions & Autonomous Provinces 21 Prefect’s Offices 99 Provinces 76 Chambers of Commerce 103 Municipalities 3288 Total 3633 Committee for Policy-making and Coordination of Statistical Information(COMSTAT) Commission for the Protection of Statistical Information (CPSI) Istat Bodies & Organisations for statistical information Isfol Inea Isae

3. Implementation of the Code of Practice at national level Report of the EU Commission to the European Parliament and Council (2008) • Brief description of the National Statistical System • Coordination role of the NSI / main co-ordination mechanism Update information (Istat, Sistan) • key data producers other than NSI and their contribution to Community statistics • Direct contact with selected SIstan Bodies • Overall compliance level with the Code of Practice by self assessment questionnaire

4. ISTAT experience – Main findings • coherent application of statistical principles • consideration on methods and practices by all producers of official statistics • tool to increase credibility of official statistics • Validity of Principles of the Code at Sistan level • Difficult application of the indicators of the code to Sistan bodies • Difficult compilation of the self assessment questionaire to different Sistan bodies • adapt the tool • revise measurements • redesign the process at national level • Depliant on the ES CODE (IT) • Presentation in conference at national and territorial level • Specific actions to disseminate ES CODE at national level

5. ISTAT experience – extention of the code at national level The Code as an opportunity at national level Establishment by the Committee for Policy-making and Coordination of Statistical Information(COMSTAT) of a Task Force (8 members): Istat (coordinator) +other Sistan bodies) • Analysis and evaluation of the process for the implementation of the code at national level • Pilot study for the extension of the Code to the Sistan as a whole

6. PILOT STUDY – Extention of the code at national level Selection of Sistan bodies to be involved in the pilot study as respondents • Criteria: • Type of bodies (central administrations, public bodies, territorial bodies and private subjects) • Territorial coverage (North, Centre, South, Islands) • Dimension of the administrations/public bodies 42 Bodies for the self assessment questionnaire 4 Ministries 3 Public Institutions 5 Regions 10 Provinces 13 Municipalities 1 Associated Municipality 6 Chambers of Commerce 11 Peer Reviews 2 Ministries,1 Public Institutions, 2 Regions, 2 Provinces, 2 Municipalities, 2 Chambers of Commerce teams of 2/3 members of the TF

7. PILOT STUDY – Extention of the code at national level • Analysis of complexity of the structure of Sistan bodies (organisation) • Different statistical functions (statistical process) • ES Code principles (15) maintained fixed • Definition Indicators/ measurement • Filters to drive respondent to sections according to its statistical activity Self-assessment questionnaire Data collection, analysis • Help desk • standardisation of the approach  guidelines • Implementation of the questionnaire and the process Peer reviews

8. Main findings and future steps • Self-regulatory approach an occasion to reflect on the professional indipendence of statistical offices Need of dissemination/training on self assessment approach • Quality commitment a pillar for the reinforcement of the system enhancing the visibility of the role of each bodies of the system on quality strenghtening training by Istat transferring Istat expertise on quality/ monitoring statistical processes exchange of innovative projects (transferible-benefits for the System

9. Main findings and future steps • The Code as a cohesion factor (interest/high collaboration) •  Promotion actions to involve Sistan bodies in the process • Extension of the Code to the SISTAN as a whole • Adoption of the Code at national level by formal act • Development of a continous monitoring system to evaluate the improvements

10. Thank you for your attention • www.istat.it • gandolfo@istat.it