Collection and organisation of public sector statistics
73. Production of statistics that are relevant, timely, high quality and comprehensive requires collection of basic data to be both efficient and effective.
74. The Executive has been looking into data collection as part of the Streamlining Bureaucracy work, which will contribute to the Public Service Reform agenda. The aim of the Streamlining Bureaucracy work is to achieve a measurable reduction in the bureaucratic burdens on the public sector.
75. An initial review of Scottish Executive data collections has been undertaken which will help inform whether there is duplication of content and effectiveness in these collections. The review considered collections undertaken both by the Statistics group and by other parts of the Scottish Executive. Further work will be undertaken to help achieve efficiency improvements.
76. There is also an opportunity to look more radically at the collection and organisation of statistics across the public sector. This could have a number of benefits including increasing capacity in the public sector generally and perhaps a greater opportunity to develop new administrative sources of data. It would fit well with the aims of giving public bodies more responsibility for the production of information about themselves and their areas.
77. We propose to:
- initiate some work with local authorities and other public bodies to explore the possibility of a new partnership which would put in place new arrangements for collection, processing and publication of statistics.
Questions
Should we be looking at a new partnership with local authorities and other public bodies for the collection, processing and publication of statistics? Do you have any suggestions on how this could work?