Closing Speech by Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Trade & Industry, after the 2nd Reading of the Statistics (Amendment) Bill

Mr Speaker, Sir, first let me thank Mdm Ho and Prof Straughan for their support of the Bill, and also to Ms Lim for raising some very important clarifications. Let me respond to the issues raised.

2. First, on the micro data review panel. This will be chaired by Chief Statistician and will include all the relevant members from the various agencies, providing the source, as well as the policy agencies. This panel will evolve, and depending on the requests put up to the micro data review panel, we will have the composition of the relevant people to review the requests and also to scrutinize the micro data that will be released.

3. Ms Sylvia Lim asked whether by amending the Act, we have reduced the safeguards. The answer is “No". The amendment essentially formalizes the current arrangement and, as I mentioned in my Second Reading speech, the Ministers who are responsible for the agencies that collect the data or that are in possession of the data, will have the power to exempt these sensitive information from being provided to the Chief Statistician. So the gatekeeper remains the agencies that collect the data, and the Ministers responsible for these agencies. So in the six agencies that she mentioned -- CPF, IRAS, etc -- if the data is considered sensitive, the agencies and the Ministers can still exempt these data to be given to the Chief Statistician.

4. Sir, let me next answer the three comments raised by Prof. Straughan. First, on the quality of data, I agree with her that this is very important. I think the various statistical agencies are very concerned and they have international standards to abide with when they collect the statistics. Nevertheless, Statistics Department will review these quality guidelines and formalize this set of guidelines for the various RSUs. Second, on informed consent and ethical issues raised – again, because we are involving the agencies, both the policy agencies as well as the statistical agencies, in the micro data panel, if requests for such data compromises the informed consent or ethical issues, then the agencies involved in collecting the data can veto and not release the information. So that is the check and balance.

5. Third point about how we can inculcate a conducive culture of evidence-based research -- this is indeed our objective and we are taking these initial steps release anonymised micro data in order to facilitate this culture of evidence-based research. But we do so in a very careful calibrated manner. I think eventually we hope to have it extended to all important research agencies. For a start, we are extending this only to these agencies and the researchers appointed by these agencies. But once people gain confidence that even though we are releasing anonymised micro data, this is done very carefully and that confidentiality is safeguarded, then I think we can extend this to more researchers. I agree with her suggestion that there ought to be a good feedback mechanism so that people feel that the data which they have provided for various statistical purposes, are put to good use and that policies are increasingly based on proper research and proper evidence.