1. Legal Aspects of the Israel National Statistics System
Brian Negin
ICBS Legal Advisor
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

2. Content of this presentation
Historical background
Current legislation
Implementation
Conclusion
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

3. Historical Background
During British Mandate
One official Statistics Department
Responsible for all “national” statistics
From 1948 – 1978
Legal system only recognized CBS
In practice, others also produced official statistics
Government offices and departments
Municipalities
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

4. Historical Background
1978 amendment to the Statistics Ordinance [New Version],
Recognized de facto reality
ICBS as major official statistical office
Others as contributors to the National Statistics System
Established conditions for coordination between the various players
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

5. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics
Current Legislation
The Statistics Ordinance [New Version],
Functions of the Government Statistician
Functions of the ICBS
The Public Council for Statistics (Article 4)
Mutual consultation (Article 5)
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

6. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics
Current Legislation
Functions of the Government Statistician (Article 2(b))
Guide the ICBS
Guide the statistical apparatus of the State agencies
“State agencies” (Article 1)
Government Ministries, local authorities - and authorities, bodies corporate and other agencies established under law or decided upon by the Government
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

7. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics
Current Legislation
Functions of the ICBS (Article 3)
Perform statistical activities and publish results
Cooperate with State agencies in performing statistical activities and publishing their results
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

8. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics
Current Legislation
The Public Council for Statistics (Article 4)
Composition
Representatives of “State agencies, institutions of higher education and research and public bodies and of experts on statistics and on economic and social subjects”
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

9. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics
Current Legislation
The Public Council for Statistics
Powers and functions
Advise Prime Minister and other Ministers regarding statistical activities of State agencies
Advise the Government Statistician regarding statistical activities of ICBS
Receive from State agencies schemes for performance of statistical activities and give opinion on coordination between agencies
Make proposals on efficiency and on developing statistical activities
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

10. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics
Mutual Consultation
State agencies (Article 5(a))
State agencies must consult with the Government Statistician
When an agency plans statistical activity that involves addressing the public (ie – surveys)
State agencies must receive advance permission from the Prime Minister
If the statistical activity is a census
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

11. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics
Mutual Consultation
ICBS (Article 5(b))
ICBS must consult with Government Ministries
When statistical activity in area of a Government Ministry
ICBS must receive advance permission from the Prime Minister
If the statistical activity is a census
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

12. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics
Implementation
Government Statistician only guides the statistical activities of the ICBS and not of other State agencies
ICBS cooperates with other State agencies
Surveys requested by State agencies
Joint surveys
Research
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

13. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics
Implementation
Public Council for Statistics does not
Advise PM and other Ministries
Receive from State agencies schemes for performance of statistical activities
Coordination
State agencies do not always consult with Government Statistician regarding their surveys
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

14. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics
Conclusion
Statistics Ordinance envisions integrated National Statistics System
Government Statistician
Public Council for Statistics
ICBS
Other State agencies
In practice, this integration is only partially fulfilled
Strengthening integration is necessary as the demand for official statistics grows
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics