Publication Arrangements for NSO Statistics

1. Statistical publications are released at the earliest possible date.

2. The time of publication for each statistical News Release is 11.00 am.

3. (a) Prior to the release of its publications the NSO does not need or seek the approval of Ministers.

(b) No Ministerial comment is ever included in any NSO publication. Whenever appropriate, any such comments are issued separately by the Ministries themselves and on their own initiative.

(c) The content of statistical releases is the sole responsibility of the Director Statistics. In releasing statistics, no interpretation or unreasonable selection of material is carried out by the NSO. Comments on the implications of the statistics for the current state of the economy, the state of society or the effectiveness of Government policies or programmes are never made. Neither are comments made on the policies of the Government.

4. Copies of regular NSO publications are made available to Ministers and officials on their release date. However NSO News Releases may be sent to Ministers twenty-four (24) hours prior to release in order to avoid them being caught unawares upon the release of the data. Access to any work-in-progress is on a need-to-know basis only.

5. Statistics that are published in annual publications only may be made immediately available to Ministers and officials for policy and operational purposes (including answering Parliamentary Questions) and to the general public on request. All such data is labelled "Provisional" until the final publication is released by the NSO.