1. Statistics Netherlands’ modernization programme: the use of administrative data, lessons learned and the way ahead. Geert Bruinooge Assistant Director General gbne@cbs.nl

2. Contents Characteristics The Netherlands’ official statistics Driving forces for change The use of administrative data: preconditions for efficient use. Two cases Lessons learned The way ahead

3. Characteristics The Netherlands’ official statistics Highly centralised: Statistics Netherlands produces 95% of official statistics No regional offices Professional independence guaranteed by law and highly respected Strong tradition for statistical integration: system of national accounts and modules

4. Driving forces for change Ongoing budget cuts (- 30% since 1999) Need for new statistical information –Programme renewal –Faster and more flexible outputs –Strong emphasis on European demands –Quality improvement Cutting back the administrative burden Increased availability of external administrations and registers Competition from third parties (ICT developments, availability registerdata)

5. The use of administrative data Preconditions for use: Legal obligation (2004) first external available data must be used, and surveys on second place. Free access to administrations Legal possibilities matching data files Unique identification numbers both for businesses and persons

6. The use of administrative data (2) External political support Imposed reduction of response burden by 25% for businesses At National and EU – level Wider existance of administrations and registrations in the country Enabling provisions in national legislation

7. Examples of administrative data sources Some examples: The Dutch population register The social security administration Corporate tax administation Land ownership registration Comprehensive business register

8. Two show cases I Social Statistical Data base II Dutch Taxonomy project (XBRL)

9. Case I:The Social Statistical Database The SSD: all relevant information on persons, families, households, jobs, benefits and living quarters Product: consistent statistical output Advantages: regional detail, more information on smaller groups, ‘on demand outputs’.

10. Case I: The Social Statistical Database Primary base: register information Additionally: survey data from business and households Backbone: Dutch population register All other files linked: demographic data, income tax, labour market participation, social security benefits, educational attainment, housing.

11. Case I: Social Statistical Database Methodology: Micro-integration: linking records from different sources (link: identification number) Check for consistency and corrected Consistent and repeated weighting Started in 1997 Sampling frame for special social surveys Basis for output in social area and input for Statline database Virtual census in 2001, to be repeated in 2011.

12. Case II: The Dutch Taxonomy project Objective: standardisation of the reporting requirements for business to different parts of government (tax, annual reporting, statistics) How: using single technical standard (XBRL) and common vocabulary of government administrations. Build in functionality in software programmes

13. Case II: the Dutch Taxonomy project So far: no single report for business to all administrations, but a modular more tailor made report. For SN: from 189 to 6 reports Still: limited success in so far (contrary to Portugal) Reasons: not build in business software Voluntary Lack of political support But a clear way forward in future.

14. Lessons learned Legal basis is precondition (but not enough) Strong political support indispensable Innovation from the own organisation is prerequisite Contacts at all levels NSI – administrations NSI involvement in setting up and changing administrations: standards/concepts Variations in quality of administrative data NSIs not in control Risk of abolishment of basic administrations

15. Our future environment Our environment the coming years: Integrated Architecture Framework to be implemented in 2011 Future budget reductions? Further reduction administrative burden: high political issue Enrichment of outputs by more and higher quality

16. The way ahead Future directions: Stronger co-operation statistics/administrations (one counter) Joint research and programmes Stronger profile for NSI as ‘bureau of standard’ Create value added for statistics More service oriented attitude NSIs Political support

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