National quality guidelines in Denmark 19th meeting in thé Working Group on Quality in Statistics 6th December 2016 Item 6b Karin Blix, Statistics Denmark, kwb@dst.dk

National quality guidelines European statistics produced in Denmark …by 21 ONA’s The 15 principles and 82 indicators of CoP are “translated” into 21 guidelines in a Danish context 61 criteria follow the guidelines Organised under the same headings as CoP: Institutional environment Statistical processes Statistical output

Guidelines – example (1)

Guidelines – example (2)

Monitoring of compliance Self-assessment questionnaire developed and presented for the ONAs in December 2015 Questionnaire was finalised and sent to the ONA’s in May 2016 ONAs filled in self-assessment in June 2016 Review team including representatives from two ONA’s and Statistics Denmark Report ready for the Coordination committee on December 1st General report, provides general indications - but also the need for further clarification

Evaluating (Danish ex.) The 61 criteria following the 21 guidelines are ”translated” into 59 questions Some of the questions (9) are related to mandatory criteria. For these, the answers can be: Yes (fulfilled) No (negative assessment – plan on how to reach ”yes”) The rest of the questions are related to other criteria. For these, the answers can be: Yes, partly (fulfilled – plan on how to reach ”yes”) No (improvement possibility – plan on how to reach ”yes”) Not relevant (arguments must be given)

Challenges – examples General indicators – professional independence The head of the statistical unit having sole responsibility Usually the statistical production is not the only task General indicators – statistical confidentiality Updating of access to confidential data The access is updated, but not necessarily every 6 month Questions marked “not relevant” Publication calendar Standard daily release of statistics Equal access to statistics at the same time

Production processes for European Statistics What part of 'production' has ONA’s responsibility? How does the production of European statistics together with other statistical production? Should it possibly. be more clearly how the guidelines relating to the different parts of the production process?

... Some preliminary proposals to amend the questionnaire Revise and possibly remove guidelines/issues that are not relevant an ONA perspective Re-organise mandatory criteria/questions - so that they become 'easier' to answer Some questions may be more clear It could be considered whether to assign a short description to each answer that will make it easier to analyse the responses

Suggestions for the next step Visit Round at the beginning of 2017 in all ONAs increase mutual understanding of the guidelines / questions increase Statistics Denmark’s insight into and understanding of the production of European statistics in the Danish ONAs qualify an adjustment of the self-assessment questionnaire and possibly the guidelines 'Process Report' to Eurostat for 2016 Seminar during 2017 for all relevant employees in ONAs