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Summary
1. Government Statistical
Services are now in the dramatic changes such
as the economic globalization and information
revolution. The Statistics Council, a permanent
advisory organ on official statistics published
a report in March 1995 titled "New Strategies
for Government Statistical Services for the
Coming Decade". The Government is making efforts
to implement the Strategies by organizing an
interministry promotion body. Several measures
proposed by the Council have already implemented:
former Establishment Census were reorganized
into a new Establishment and Enterprise Census
to measure the whole activities of business
enterprises as well as those of establishments.
Based on the new Census, the system will be
developed to compile a business frame as population
for other business surveys. The Basic Survey
of Business Structure and Activity, another
important business survey, increased its frequency
from triennial to annual base to grasp rapid
changes of business. Dissemination of data was
expedited for the important statistics such
as Population Census and the Family Income and
Expenditure Survey. In addition, in response
to the request of the market players, release
hours of the International Trade Statistics,
Balance of Payment Statistics and eight statistics
compiled by the Bank of Japan including Short-term
Economic Survey of Enterprises were advanced
to the morning from the afternoon. Many ministries
and agencies have now started data dissemination
services via Internet or other communication
networks.
2. In the field of International
cooperation, the Japanese government make contributions
through the participation in the important international
meetings such as the UN Statistics Commission,
the Ad Hoc Meeting of National Statistical Offices
of OECD Member Countries and the Conference
of European Statisticians of ECE, as well as
the regular reporting to the international organizations.
In particular, the Japanese government will
continue to serve as a member of the UN Statistics
Commission for the next four year term from
1997. With regard to ICP, the Japanese government
has participated both in the ESCAP and OECD
comparison programme. It has played an important
role as a bridge country to link the regional
comparison results. The Japanese government,
as the host government of the Statistical Institute
for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP), cooperates
with it through contributions in cash and in
kind, as well as the acceptance of trainees
of the Tokyo based three group training courses.
Our government also contributes to the important
works through participation in the Special Data
Dissemination Standards of IMF and the database
buildings considered in the working groups of
APEC.
3. For the more effective
government information systems, the Japanese
government established the Administrative Informatization
Promoting Plan, covering a period of 5 years
from FY 1995. Among several progresses: The
Kasumigaseki WAN, a government wide network
is scheduled to start its operation in January
1997. The standard specifications of a clearing
system (locator) was set for the wider use of
administrative information by the public through
electronic means. The guideline for reviewing
administrative procedures was prepared to shift
the procedure from paper-based ones to electronic-media-based
ones. Other than these progress, MCA conducts
"The Basic Survey on Informatization" in order
to grasp the current status of utilization of
information equipment together with that of
networking and open system environment in the
government and public corporations. MCA has
been developing the Integrated Administrative
Information Network for the more efficient use
of information by government as a whole. MCA
offers the services such as the Information
Retrieval Systems including the full text of
existing laws and orders, cabinet decisions
and the Application Systems for personnel management
and payroll work for all ministries/agencies.
MCA also conducts training courses on information
systems for government officials.
CONTENTS
Introduction
A. Outline of the Statistical System of
the Government of Japan
B. Issues and problems encountered
in carrying out statistical activities
C. Progress made and planned
improvements
C-1. Progress made in the
various statistical fields
- Statistics on business
enterprises
- Household and family
budget statistics
- Service industry statistics
- Statistics on trade and
investment flows
- Environment statistics
- Labor statistics
- Statistics on informal
sector
- Gender statistics
C-2. Reducing reporting burdens
C-3. Data dissemination and user services
C-4. International cooperation on statistics
- Cooperation in the works
of international organizations
- Participation and cooperation
in International Comparison Programme
- Technical cooperation
with other countries including training
- Reporting, collection
and use of international statistical information
- IMF the Special Data
Dissemination Standards
- APEC Labor Market Information(LMI)
data base
- Current and planned activities
in response to various programmes and plans
of action adopted by the recent global summit
meetings in the social sphere
D. Public-sector computerization
and government information systems
Introduction
This report describes major
statistical activities of the Government of
Japan since the Ninth Session of ESCAP Committee
on Statistics held in November-December 1994.
Taking into consideration the matters of interest
indicated by the ESCAP Secretariat, the contents
of the report are as follows: Section A Outline
of the Statistical System of the Government
of Japan Section B Issues and problems encountered
in carrying out statistical activities Section
C Progress made and planned improvements (including
initiatives taken to meet changing needs; progress
made in the various statistical fields such
as business enterprises and service industry;
data collection through censuses, surveys and
administrative records; data processing including
database development; data dissemination and
user services; Technical cooperation with other
countries including training assistance needs;
and international cooperation Section D Public-Sector
computerization and government information systems
A. Outline of the Statistical
System of the Government of Japan
In Japan, statistics of the
central government are prepared under the Decentralised
System in which each national governmental organ
compiles statistics on its own administrative
fields of jurisdiction. In this system, there
is an advantage that each ministry and agency
can plan and execute statistics which exactly
meet its administrative needs while there is
a specific need to eliminate the duplication
in statistical surveys and to secure mutual
coherence of statistics compiled by ministries
and agencies.Under these circumstances, the
organ which takes charge of comprehensive coordination
of the government statistical activities is
necessary. The Statistical Standards Department,
Statistics Bureau, Management and Coordination
Agency (hereinafter referred to as "the Statistical
Standards Department") plays the role of comprehensive
coordination organ by planning basic issues
related to statistics, clearance on statistical
surveys based on the Statistics Law (Law No.18
of 1947) and Statistical Reports Coordination
Law (Law No.148 of 1952), and development of
statistics standards, etc.
Also, the Statistics
Council which was established in August 1952
as a permanent advisory organ on official statistics,
in response to a request from the Director-General
of the MCA, studies and deliberates on important
matters relating to the examination of statistical
survey plans, the establishment of statistical
standards, and the comprehensive coordination
of government statistical activities. The Council
submits reports on these matters and recommends
to the Director-General concerning these matters
when necessary. The Council consists of seven
leading experts on statistics, seven representatives
of the national and prefectural governments
in charge of statistics and four representatives
of the users of statistics.
The Statistical Standards
Department is in charge of coordination on international
statistical affairs through the exchange of
statistical data with the international organizations
such as the United Nations and the foreign governments
as well as technical cooperation, etc.
B. Issues and problems
encountered in carrying out statistical activities
The Statistics Council
submitted the report entitled " Medium-and Long-term
Plans for Government Statistical Activities
" in October 1985 as a guideline of promoting
statistical administration. However, the preparation
of the new framework was needed taking into
account the socio-economic changes surrounding
the statistical services such as growing service
sector in the economy, the wide spreading information
revolution and progress of internationalization
as well as change of household structure and
ageing society. The Council submitted the report
entitled " New Strategies for Government Statistical
Services for the Coming Decade " (hereinafter
referred to as " New Strategies ") to the Director-General
of MCA to show the direction for the statistical
services in the coming decade to adequately
meet these changes in March 1995 after the intensive
discussion over 18 months.
New Strategies consists
of six main issues as follows.
- Review of statistical
surveys to adjust to social and economic changes
--
Review of statistical surveys to monitor the
activities of enterprises and conditions of
households more adequately under service orientation
of economy, information orientation, internationalization
and aging of population--
- Timing and periodicity
of major statistical censuses and surveys
--
Rescheduling of major statistical censuses
and surveys to conduct them more efficiently
and effectively by avoiding convergence in
the same year --
- Reducing reporting
burdens and statistical departments in the
local governments--
Reducing reporting burdens on respondents
through the comprehensive coordination such
as the process of statistical clearance, reflecting
the opinions of respondents in survey planning
and application of new information and communication
technology --
- Expansion of the use
of survey results --
Expedited dissemination of the statistical
survey results, provision of them through
various media such as CD-ROM and the use of
sample data set for the advanced analysis
and research--
- Efficient implementation
and quality improvement of statistical surveys--
Introduction of data collection through on-line
networks in the statistics on business enterprises
--
- Promoting international
cooperation--
Improvement of the international comparability
and promotion of international cooperation
in the field of statistics--
As most recommendations in the New Strategies
correspond to the issues of concern of the
ESCAP Secretariat, specific contents of the
recommendations, implementation and planned
improvement are described in the following
chapters in the present report. For the steady
implementation of the " New Strategies ",
our government is making integrated efforts
through the Steering Committee for the promotion
of the New Strategies which was set up in
April 1995 consisting of the statistical offices
of the ministries and agencies in close consultation
with the Council. Also, working groups were
established under the Steering Committee for
the cross-cutting issues among the ministries
and agencies as well as technical and specialized
issues.
C. Progress made and
planned improvements
C-1. Progress made in
the various statistical fields
a. Statistics on business
enterprises
The New Strategies recommended
as follows.
- Responding to changes such
as the growing service sector in the economy,
wide spreading information revolution and
progress of internationalization, the activities
of business enterprises and establishments
have been demonstrating increasing complexity.
The existing surveys measuring business activities,
however, are conducted with the establishment
as the survey unit and are therefore not designed
to grasp the range of activities of business
enterprises. They are insufficient to measure
today's business activities, which are rapidly
changing. Therefore, the current Establishment
Census shall be reorganized into the Establishment
and Enterprise Census with the improved survey
items to grasp the situations on the internationalization,
diversification and capital Keiretsu relationship.
- Business activities related
to fixed tangible assets including production
facilities and equipment, have also been diversifying
such as the hollowing out in domestic industry
which has accompanied overseas-oriented capital
formation and the increased utilization of
lease and rental services in relation to facilities
and equipment. Therefore, survey items on
fixed tangible assets in the surveys related
to business enterprises and establishments
shall be integrated and shall be used jointly.
And, stock statistics shall be improved on
top of statistics on household and land assets
which have been already improved. Based on
these efforts, measures to improve fixed capital
stock matrices shall be considered in order
to measure stock by sector.
Above recommendation
was implemented as follows.
In 1996, the Establishment
Census was reorganized into the Establishment
and Enterprise Census and its survey items were
improved such as ratio of foreign capital, number
of employees and branch offices at home and
abroad to measure a whole activities and resources
of business enterprises, and to monitor internationalization,
diversification and capital Keiretsu relationship,
and to enable compilation of a list of business
enterprises and establishments to develop an
Establishment and Enterprise Frame as population
information. The reorganized census will be
conducted every five years. Based on the result
of 1996 Census, system development will be implemented
for the Establishment and Enterprise Frame and
operation of the Frame is scheduled to be launched
in 1997.
With regard to the adequate
monitoring of the fixed tangible assets of the
business enterprises, it is scheduled to monitor
" land " as a breakdown of the fixed tangible
assets in the Basic Survey of Business Structure
and Activity in 1996. Besides, the permanent
working group for business statistics is studying
on improvement of survey items concerning the
current status of building etc. in the Basic
Survey on land in 1996. Also, holding the study
group consisting of ministries and agencies
concerned in the future is to be considered
with regard to the fixed capital stock matrices.
b. Household and family
budget statistics
New Strategies recommended
that a study shall be made on the measures enabling
the total comparison and analysis of major statistical
surveys taking into consideration diversification
of household structure, housing patterns, works,
life-style, etc. The measures may include the
introduction of common questions, in order to
grasp the whole activities not the part of life
such as working status and leisure activities.
Family budget and consumption
statistics shall be reviewed in response to
the growing individualization of household budget
and the increase of the single person household.
Also, the survey subjects of price statistics
shall be reviewed in response to the diversification
of prices due to the increase in discount stores
and so on.
Above recommendations were
implemented as follows. With regard to the study
enabling the total comparison and analysis of
major statistical surveys on households, improvement
of survey items such as addition of " the residence
of child " and division of " parents " into
" parents of the head of the household " and
" parents of the spouse " was made in the Survey
of Time Use and Leisure Activities in 1996,
in order to contribute to the total comparison
and analysis including Population Census and
Housing Survey.
A study meeting consisting
of experts is to be held concerning the unification
of the Single-Person Household Income and Expenditure
Survey and the Family Income and Expenditure
Survey from the viewpoint of securing the number
of samples and the precision of the survey.
Also, with regard to the Retail Price Survey,
a study was implemented in FY 1995 to monitor
the difference of prices based on type of shops
and type of dealing as well as the change of
prices. Review of the Retail Price Survey will
be implemented by FY 1999, based on the result
of the study. Review of the specifications of
the Survey was implemented in 1996 and will
be implemented in 1997.
C. Service industry statistics
In Japan, there are
following service industry statistics; " Survey
on Services Industries" giving a broad picture
of the sector has been conducted based on "
Medium-and Long Term Plans for Government Statistical
Activities " in 1985,"Survey of Selected Service
Industries" which is the detailed survey concerning
specific fields of services such as lease and
rental services and information services etc.,
and "Statistical Survey on Service Industries
Relating to Health and Welfare" concerning home
nursing and rehabilitation services etc.. And
the derived statistics such as "Corporate Service
Price Index" and "Indices of Tertiary Industries'
Activities" have also been compiled. However,
the increasing "soft" or service orientation
of the economy is not restricted to tertiary
industry's expansion. It also accompanies the
movement of business enterprises in even primary
and secondary industries, such as the hiving-off
of businesses, use of dispatched labour, use
of lease and rentals and trade between business,
as well as the diversifying activities of information
and communications sector. Under these circumstances,
the 1995 New Strategies recommended that service
industry statistics need to be improved further
to monitor these conditions more properly.
In view of the above-mentioned
recommendations, Survey on Services Industries
will continue to be held in 1999, and the improvement
and enrichment of the Survey of Selected Service
Industries including expansion of the subject
industries will be considered. Furthermore,
in "1996 Establishment and Enterprise Census",
the number of dispatched or subcontracted employees
from other companies as well as to other companies
will be monitored. Since 1995, the Ministry
of Posts and Telecommunications have conducted
"Current Survey of Communications Industries"
monthly to monitor the conditions on sales and
employees of telecommunications carriers etc.
d. Statistics on trade
and investment flows
An Experts Meeting was set
up under the Committee on Foreign Exchange and
other Transactions to implement the BPM revision
5 by IMF. The Meeting studied the contents of
the BPM rev.5 and the situations and problems
on statistics of International Balance of Payments
in Japan. Based on the result of the study,
the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Japan
worked for the revision of the statistics of
International Balance of Payments. In September
1995, the Ministry and BOJ published the rearranged
statistics for fiscal 1991-1994. Regarding trade
in services, we divided "Invisible Balance excluding
transfers" into "Services" and "Income" in conformity
with BPM rev.5. In "Services", classifications
such as telecommunications, construction, insurance,
finance, information and so on, as well as transportation
and travel were established to enable provision
of more detailed information. The Ministry of
Finance has changed the modality of statistics
of International Balance of Payments in accordance
with BPM Rev.5 since January 1996.
And we participated in "the
Expert Group Meeting Reviewing the Draft Revised
Text of International Merchandise Trade Statistics;
Concepts and Definitions", which was held on
20-24 May 1996 in New York sponsored by the
United Nations Statistics Division, and commented
concerning "DRAFT 2 INTERNATIONAL MERCHANDISE
TRADE STATISTICS CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS" as
follows. 1) To analyze trade trends, it is important
to maintain the methods of collecting trade
statistics data. 2) New burdens on exporters
and importers should be avoided and the increase
of works and costs should be restricted by paying
enough attention to the practical problems on
the methods of collecting statistical data and
systems in each country. Thus, we have contributed
to the improvement of statistics concerning
Trade and Investment flows. When DRAFT 3 is
published, we intend to consider it further.
Furthermore, we have participated in "the APEC
Data Review Working Group Meeting" which has
been held since 1991 to improve the data for
the purpose of minimizing inconsistency of merchandise
trade data, trade in services and investment
flows among APEC member countries and to make
a data base. We intend to hold the meeting as
the chair country after 1996.
e. Environment statistics
With regard to Environment
Statistics, the development of "the Indicators
for Sustainable Development" is required in
Agenda 21. In Japan, it is also asked that the
indicators should be developed promptly to assess
the progress of the "environmentally sound material
cycle", "harmonious coexistence", "participation"
and "international activities" which are set
forth as the long-term objectives in the Basic
Environment Plan (Cabinet Decision, December
1994). In response to these requests, recent
worldwide tendency is to set the environmental
accounting to deal with the environmental information
within the framework of the accounting as the
basic information in the development and estimation
of the indicators. So, considerations are given
to the setting up the system of the environmental
accounting, in Japan. Following a preparatory
study in the fiscal year 1991, the Environment
Agency, the Economic Planning Agency and the
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
have been promoting the joint study and research
on integrated environmental accounting since
FY 1992. Up to now, the following studies and
researches have been conducted, namely;
- Research on methodology
to design environment resource accounting
system in which the environmental changes
on a global scale are reflected (literature
review on the definitions of the sustainable
development and their measurement; research
on the worldwide progress through participating
in the meetings on the environmental resource
accounting held in OECD, etc.);
- Research on methodology
to construct the resource accounting in the
field of agriculture, forestry and fisheries
(construction of the accounting in accordance
with the system of natural resource accounting
in the developed countries; development of
the methodology on assessment of the environmental
benefits and costs in the agricultural environmental
resources; consideration of the estimation
of the stock of pollutant and the environmental
assets in the framework of the system of integrated
environmental and economic accounting ( SEEA)
);
- Research to introduce the
integrated environmental and economic accounting
in the system of national accounts (study
to introduce the estimation on integrated
environmental and economic accounting in the
1993 SNA as a satellite accounting; --In this
context, trial estimates for 1985 and 1990
were published last June by the Economic Planning
Agency. In addition, the International Symposium
on Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting
in Theory and Practice was held in Tokyo in
March 1996.Taking account of these studies
and researches, the Environment Agency which
is a core organization on this matter established
the Working Group on Environmental Accounting
in 1994. The Group consisting of leading experts
on environment issues and prefectural government
staffs are now considering how to use the
environmental accounting for decision-making
in environmental policy.
f. Labor statistics
New Strategies recommended
that survey items, frequency and survey methods
of labor statistics surveys shall be reviewed
in response to diversification of employment
status including part-timers, latent unemployment
including under-employment and double employment
such as side-business, and that survey shall
be conducted to adequately monitor the situation
of foreign workers. At present, the basic principle
and schedule of review of the statistical surveys
on labor is being studied. Also, calculation
of foreigners by the section of town and village
will be conducted to clarify regional distribution
of foreigners.
g. Statistics on
informal sector
Regarding the statistics of
employment in the informal sector in Japan,
the Ministry of Labour and the Statistics Bureau
of MCA are playing a central role in conducting
the studies and researches through collecting
information in the various countries in order
to design the statistics to enable the measurement
of the underemployment and houseworks, bearing
in mind the resolution of the fifteenth International
Conference of Labour Statisticians, January
1993. However, it seems to be difficult to grasp
the situation since there are many problems
to be solved on the definitions and methodologies.
Thus, we will consider the specific activities
for the next International Conference of Labour
Statisticians in 1998, in which the informal
sector would be on the agenda, collecting information
through the participations in the international
meetings concerned.
h. Gender statistics
In Japan, the present situation
on women is monitored and various policies concerning
women are made based on the analysis by sex
of the existing statistics. In 1992, the Ministry
of Education launched a five year-project by
the expert group on gender and statistics to
consider what the gender statistics should be,
development of statistical system and statistical
indicators on women and family. The ministry
is also providing various information on gender
statistics via internet. How to statistically
monitor the housework and so on which is engaged
mainly by women in the Population Census is
a future problem taking the international trends
into consideration.
C-2. Reducing reporting
burdens
Needs for statistical information
are increasing due to recent social and economic
changes such as the development of information
orientation. Under these circumstances, heavy
burden on respondents result in lack of cooperation
and decline of accuracy. In order to execute
statistical surveys smoothly and secure accurate
data, it is important to always take the respondents'
situation into account and minimize reporting
burdens. Therefore, the measures to reduce reporting
burdens must be promoted. The 1995 New Strategies
recommended the following measures to reduce
reporting burdens multilaterally and systematically.
- Steady reduction of
reporting burdens through the examination
of statistical surveys in view of promoting
simplification and efficiency, and eliminating
duplication of survey questions
- Reflecting the opinions
of respondents' easiness in answering questions
when designing statistical surveys
- Study and development
of days/hours necessary for reporting to be
utilized in planning, designing or clearance
of statistical surveys (Days/hours necessary
for reporting is considered as an effective
scale to measure reporting burdens.)
- Restriction of collecting
new statistical information through the use
of administrative records and existing survey
results.
- Reduction of the mental
reporting burdens through public relations
and promoting the use of survey results.
- Improvement of the
survey methods enabling respondents to report
easily by applying new information and communications
technologies such as the survey by the magnetic
media or communication network and application
of pre-print method in which the information
already known is printed beforehand in the
questionnaire.
The above-mentioned
recommendations were promoted as follows;
1) Each ministry and
agency has reviewed its own statistical surveys
in accordance with the five-year review plan
of statistical surveys which started in 1995
based on "On the Measures to be Taken to Reduce
the Public Burden caused by Statistical Surveys"
(agreed by a meeting of directors in charge
of statistics of the ministries or agencies).
And Statistical Standards Department, Statistics
Bureau, MCA is promoting burden reduction through
the examination of the statistical surveys plan.
As a result of review in 1995, following measures
were taken in 101 surveys(28.1%) among 359 surveys
of review subjects, such as abolition, integration,
decrease of frequency, modification of survey
date, reduction of respondents, reduction of
survey items and improvement of survey method
(see the table indicating the results of review).
The examples of these reviews are as follows;
- abolition of "Mode-of-Trade
Statistics Survey",
- reduction of questionnaires
and survey items through integration of "the
Survey on Trade in Imported Vegetables and
Fruits", "the Survey on Trade in Imported
Livestock" and "the Survey on Trade in Imported
Fisheries" into "the Survey on Trade in Imported
Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries Products"
- reduction of respondents
of "Survey of Wages and Salaries at Private
Firms" from 32,000 to 24,000,
- decrease of frequency of
"Survey on Seamen's Labour" from the quarter
to a half year,
- reduction of survey items
of "Statistics of Construction Labour Material
Unit (tentative name)" from 1,200 to 150.
| The results
of review on burden reduction
|
| Abolition
| 2 ( 1.4)
| Reduction of survey items
| 64 (43.2)
|
| Integration
| 3 ( 2.0)
| Improvement of survey
method etc.
| 22 (14.8)
|
| Decrease of frequency
| 5 ( 3.4)
| Other Improvements
| 29 (19.6)
|
| Modification of Survey
date
| 2 ( 1.4)
|
|
|
| Reduction of respondents
| 21 (14.2)
| Total
| 148(100.0)
|
2) The opinions of respondents
are reflected in the planning and designing
of statistical surveys through conducting the
pre-test or sending out questionnaires to households.
For example, questionnaires were sent out to
the households relating to 1995 Population Census,
in order to reflect its results in the design
of the next Population Census to be conducted
in the year 2000. Existing survey results are
utilized for other surveys. For example, the
data of "Survey of Research and Development"
were utilized for "Survey on Private Enterprises'
Research and Development" and the data of "Survey
of Medical Institute" and "Patient Survey" were
utilized for "Patient Behavior and Satisfaction
Survey". Furthermore, each ministry and agency
conducts public relations activities through
newspapers and televisions, and publicized the
statistical reports and PR leaflets on statistical
surveys to respondents. Regarding the way of
utilizing the administrative records and the
development of indicators using days/hours used
for reporting to reduce reporting burdens, the
examination by the Steering Committee is under
way.
3) Regarding "Current
Survey of Production", collecting system of
statistical data through telecommunication line
is being developed. The consideration for the
surveys through the magnetic media and telecommunication
line is under way in the Steering Committee.
And the pre-printed questionnaire was introduced
in the "Establishment and Enterprise Census",
"Basic Survey of Business Structure and Activity"
and "Survey of Social Welfare Institutions".
The survey method by mail or facsimile was introduced
in the statistical surveys such as "Survey on
Motor Vehicle Transport". The Steering Committee
has been making an effort to reduce reporting
burdens through these methods.
C-3. Data dissemination
and user services
Regarding the results
of the statistical surveys which are public
assets, the Statistics Council recommended as
follows in the New Strategies.
1) The expedited dissemination
must be further promoted. Particularly, the
release of partial tabulations or tentative
figures should be actively promoted in the economic
statistics used as indicators where there is
strong users' demand for early publication.
2) More materials on survey
results for public release (particularly, preliminary
data) must be provided through private sector
personal computer networks or facsimiles. In
addition, given the recent prevalence and improved
ability of personal computers, statistical data
must be provided through more user-oriented
media such as FDs and CD-ROM as well as magnetic
tapes.
3) To meet users' needs for
the supply of the statistical tables and individual
data nesessary for the advanced analysis and
researches, considerations must be given to
the additional order-made tabulation and the
expansion of non-statistical purpose use of
individual questionnaires which can be approved
only on condition that they are closely connected
to the public interest, and to the provision
of a "sample data set" (a set of data taken
from completed survey questionnaires in which
all identifiers such as area codes and household
codes are deleted in addition to the improvement
of the statistical reports).
The above-mentioned recommendations
were promoted as follows.
1) As the compilation of data
collected from Population Census requires lots
of works and takes long time before dissemination.
In 1995 census, however, improvement in data
processing including decentralization of coding
process of industrial classifications enabled
expedited dissemination of the series of statistical
reports. For example, the dissemination of the
number of employments by industry was expedited
by about 6 months from 22 months to 16 months.
Other results are also planned to be disseminated
by about 6 months earlier than the ones in the
earlier census. Regarding the Family Income
and Expenditure Survey which is a basic statistics
used for economic forecasting, its dissemination
was some 50 days after completion of data collection.
This sometimes causes criticism that the data
is outdated when the data comes out and therefore
of little use. Responding to the criticism,
the Statistics Bureau has been made efforts
to reduce the processing time by introducing
an integrated system which deals with examination,
coding, data entry and data check at a same
time. As a result, the dissemination date will
be expedited by two weeks as from some time
around April 1997. This will make it possible
to submit the data to the Cabinet Committee
on Monthly Economic Report one month ahead.The
Releasing hour of the International Trade Statistics
and Balance of Payment Statistics data had been
3:30 PM. The time of press announcement was
expedited to 8:50 AM from September 1995 (Balance
of Payment data of July and Trade data of August),
because domestic investors and other market
participants had strongly requested its expedited
dissemination to use the data ahead of investors
in foreign markets. Also, the release time of
the eight statistics, disseminated by the Bank
of Japan, such as Wholesale Price Indices, Corporate
Service Price Index and Short-term Economic
Survey of Enterprises in Japan was expedited
to 11 o'clock in the morning as from September
1995. They were released in the afternoon until
then.
2) Recent progress of information
revolution, particularly rapid prevalence of
Internet, is enormously affecting dissemination
methods of statistical data. Many ministries
and agencies have started data dissemination
service via Internet or personal computer communication
networks in Japan. For example, Economic Planning
Agency provides data of the Survey on Machine
Tools Installation and others via Internet and
personal computer networks. Ministry of International
Trade and Industry provides the data of Current
Survey of Production and others via Internet
and summary of its major statistics via personal
computer communication networks. Ministry of
Post and Telecommunication provides the data
of the Survey on Current Use of Communication
Facilities via Internet and personal computer
communication networks. Ministry of Health and
Welfare provides data of the Vital Statistics
via personal computer networks. It also plans
to start data dissemination service via Internet
as from December 1996. Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries provides preliminary
data of its statistics via personal computer
communication networks and its dissemination
schedule via Internet. Statistics Bureau of
MCA has just started data dissemination service
via Internet as from April 12, 1996. Many statistics
produced by the Bureau including its monthly
economic data of the Labour Force Survey, the
Family Income and Expenditure Survey and the
Consumer Price Index are available in it.
3) To comply with the user
needs, considerations are given to creating
order-made tabulation and using individual data
in the Steering Committee. In addition, the
expansion of non-statistical purpose use of
questionnaires and others are now being reviewed
in the Statistical Standards Department.
C-4. International cooperation
on statistics The Statistical Standards Department
is promoting the cooperation with international
organizations and governments of foreign countries
through its comprehensive coordination function
of the government on exchange of statistical
data, technical cooperation on statistics, etc.
as the coordination organ on international statistical
affairs.
a. Cooperation in the
works of international organizations
Japan served as a member of
the United Nations Statistics Commission from
1962-1969. It has also been serving as such
since 1973. Thus, through its activities as
the member of the Commission, Japan has been
contributing to the improvement of international
statistics.It was decided in the Economic and
Social Council held on last May that Japan will
continue to function as the member of the Commission
for the next four year term which will start
in 1997. Japan has also been making positive
contribution to statistical activities conducted
by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific (ESCAP) through participation
in the 9th Session of ESCAP Committee on Statistics
held in November through December 1994, the
9th Meeting of ESCAP Working Group of Statistical
Experts held in January through February 1996,
the 4th and 5th Ad Hoc Meetings of National
Statistical Offices of OECD Member Countries
held in June 1995 and 1996, and the 43rd and
44th Conference of European Statisticians held
in June 1995 and 1996. In addition, each ministry
and agency has been contributing to the improvement
of the issues on international statistics within
its jurisdiction through the participation in
the international conference sponsored by the
international organizations concerned. They
will continue to make international cooperation
furthermore in the future.
b. Participation and
cooperation in International Comparison Programme
(ICP)
ICP has been carried out as
the joint undertaking of the U.N. Statistical
Office and other international organizations
aiming at international comparison of the purchasing
power of national currencies and real gross
domestic products. The Government of Japan has
participated both in the ESCAP comparison programme
and OECD comparison programme. It has played
an important role as a bridge country to link
the regional comparison results and will continue
to actively participate and cooperate in ICP
through coordination of survey items and providing
the data. In particular, in order to promote
the ESCAP comparison programme, the Government
of Japan dispatched an ICP expert to ESCAP Secretariat
from January 1995 to January 1996 on a non-reimburseable
loan basis following from July 1992 to June
1994.
c. Technical cooperation
with other countries including training(Cooperation
for the Statistical Institute for Asia and the
Pacific (SIAP))
SIAP was established in Tokyo
in June 1970 by 20 countries of members and
associate members of ECAFE (present ESCAP) including
Japan with the cooperation of UNDP. In April
1995, SIAP acquired the legal status as a subsidiary
body based on the resolution adopted at the
50th Session of ESCAP and the decision of the
Economic and Social Council. "The Agreement
between the United Nations and the Government
of Japan relating to the Statistical Institute
for Asia and the Pacific" was concluded and
put in force at the same time. Since its foundation
until the end of March 1996, it has trained
a total of 6,303 trainees from 70 countries
and areas. MCA as a cooperating agency to the
SIAP, has been providing cash contributions,
facilities, staff, etc. and also cooperating
to conduct the SIAP's training courses, such
as the Group Training Course in Practical Statistics
and in Automatic Data Processing for Trainers
and the Special Group Training Course in Analysis
and Interpretation of Statistics in collaboration
with Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA), and the Training Course in Sample Design
for Household and Establishment Surveys which
is provided by the contributions of the participating
governments. MCA provided a total of approximately
$4,527,000 as Japan's allocation in FY 1996
(i.e. April 1996 - March 1997), including a
cash contribution of about $1,880,000 and an
equivalent of about $2,647,000 for the staff,
facilities, computer, etc.
(Training by ministries, agencies
and central bank, and technical cooperation
in statistics and international exchange between
various foreign countries)
MCA has conducted continually
bilateral exchange programmes with China and
Korea. In addition, it has accepted trainees
and dispatched experts on economic statistics,
data processing, demographic statistics and
so on to countries.
The Economic Planning Agency
conducted the seminar in 1996 for promoting
market economy to the former planned economy
countries in Asia, and also plans to conduct
it in 1997. In addition, it conducted the economic
policy seminar in 1996 for countries in Asia,
Africa and Central and South America, and also
plans to conduct it in 1997.
The Ministry of Finance exchanged
opinions on checking trade statistics with the
United States and Canada from 1993 to 1995,
and also will exchange them in 1996. In addition,
it conducted the Japan Customs Technical Cooperation
Programme in cooperation with the World Custom
Organization in 1995, and plans to conduct the
Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey with
37 countries in the United States and European
countries at the end of 1997.
The Ministry of Education
dispatched an expert on educational statistics
to Egypt from March to September 1996.
The Ministry of Health and
Welfare sent the statistical mission to European
countries including United Kingdom, France,
and Australia and New Zealand to grasp the actual
situation on welfare statistics and information
system and also plans to send it in 1996. In
addition, it also implemented the technical
cooperation through the dispatch of experts
on population, public health, maternity health,
ICP and other statistics to Asian countries
including Sri Lanka, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam
and China.
The Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries sent the investigating
mission, accepted trainees and dispatched experts
on technical guidance for statistical analysis
and methods and construction of information
management system on agricultural, forestry
and fisheries statistics mainly to Asian countries
including Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Saudi
Arabia, Korea and Syria.
The Ministry of International
Trade and Industry accepted trainees and dispatched
experts on industrial and commercial statistics
to China, Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Indonesia and
Oman in 1993-1995.
The Ministry of Labour conducted
the policy planning seminars on labour statistics
to Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore
and other countries every year. In addition,
it dispatched experts on the Survey on Employment
Trends to China in 1995.
BOJ accepted trainees
and dispatched experts on financial, money flow
and balance of payment statistics to Hong Kong,
China, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Viet Nam
and other countries.
d. Reporting, collection
and use of international statistical information
Statistical Standards Department
provides statistical data regularly to the Statistical
Division of United Nations, ESCAP and OECD and
also provides information on statistics and
statistical data etc. to international organizations
and foreign governments in accordance with their
needs. And it utilizes the statistical information
and materials sent by these international organizations
etc. for national use.
e. IMF the Special Data
Dissemination Standards
Along with other thirty three
countries, Japan participated in "the Special
Data Dissemination Standards", which IMF introducted
as the framework for IMF and market participants
to grasp the main financial and economic data
of member countries to take preventive measures
against the Mexican type's financial crisis.
The metadata of Japan were just published recently
on the Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board(DSBB),
which the Fund opened on the Internet.
f. APEC Labor Market
Information(LMI) data base
Statistical Standards Department
is the focal point in Japan for the LMI group,
which was established under the APEC Human Resource
Development Working Group aiming at construction
of the LMI database, and just provided statistical
data in September 1996 to Australia, which has
taken the initiative in the Group.
g. Current and planned
activities in response to various programmes
and plans of action adopted by the recent global
summit meetings in the social sphere
All countries are requested
to promote development and improvement of social
statistics and to develop data necessary for
grasping its situation in the action plans adopted
in Cairo, Copenhagen and Beijing global conferences,
and UN Statistical Commission is requested to
deal with it. In the Working Group meeting on
International Statistical Programmes and Coordination
held in April 1996, the expert group was established
to consider this issue proposed minimum data
set (MNSDS or MNDS) to measure fifteen indicators
which are considered to be necessary and feasible
in five policy themes and areas of social concern
taken up by the recent global summit meetings
and this proposal has been considered in the
working group meeting. However, as some members
mentioned in the above mentioned Working Group
meeting that the number of indicators are too
small and some indicators are difficult to grasp
statistically, Japan will continue to study
specific actions taking accounts of the further
progress on the indicators.
D. Public-sector computerization
and government information systems
1. Establishing a Plan
for Promoting Administration Informatization
In order to meet demands for
ensuring comprehensive and flexible public administration
and providing people-oriented public services
as well as to actively utilize the latest information
and telecommunications technologies actively
in various fields of the administrative work,
the government as a whole and based upon commonly
shared perceptions needs to approach those issues
comprehensively and systematically aiming at
a high level of information. From such a perspective,
the government of Japan has established the
Administrative Informatization Promoting Plan,
the general concept of which was originally
proposed in the Final Report of the Third Provisional
Council on the Promotion of Administrative Reform
(27th October 1993).The plan, covering a period
of 5 years from fiscal year (starting on the
1st of April) 1995, consists of three levels
of specific programmes; namely,
1) The "Basic Plan for Promoting
Administrative Informatization" (Cabinet Decision,
25th December 1994), which sets forth fundamental
matters and strategies in approaching the issue
of administrative informatization on government-wide
basis as well as common items to be tackled
by ministries/agencies cooperatively and/or
sharedly.
2) The "Action Program on
Common Issues for Promoting Administrative Information"
(Approved by Inter-ministerial Council of Administrative
Information Systems, 24th March 1995, Revised
26th March 1996), under which ministries/agencies
are to implement those common items prescribed
in the Basic Plan.
3) Individual Programs of
Ministries/Agencies to be adopted separately
and independently by those ministries/agencies
based upon the Basic Plan. (refer to Appendix)
At present, led by MCA
in cooperation with the other ministries/agencies,
several working groups set up below the Inter-ministerial
Council are embodying what the Administrative
Informatization Promotion Plan envisages. The
progress in implementing the Administrative
Informatization Promoting Plan is following:
1) The Kasumigaseki WAN, a
wide area network of the central national government,
which will enable ministries/agencies to communicate
each other by electronic means, is scheduled
to operate in January 1997 based upon the "Construction
of the Kasumigaseki WAN" (approved by Inter-ministerial
Meeting of Administrative Information Systems
Division-Directors, 18th June 1996), in which
basic matters of Kasumigaseki WAN were decided.
2) The "Standard specifications
of database" was set by Inter-ministerial Council
of Administrative Information Systems on 18th
June 1996 so as to promote mutual use of database
of white papers, annual reports, research reports
and so on to be created by ministries/agencies.
3) To promote the use of various
administrative information by citizens and others
through electronic means and media, the standard
specifications of a clearing system (locator)
was set by the Inter-ministerial Council of
Administrative Information Systems on 18th June
1996.
4) To shift administrative
procedures, including applications and notifications
by the people to the authorities concerned,
from paper-base transactions to electronic-media-based
ones as far as possible, the guideline for reviewing
administrative procedures was provided by the
Inter-ministerial Council of Administrative
Information Systems on 2nd September 1996.
2. Conducting Basic Survey
on Utilization of Computers
"Basic Survey on Informatization"
is conducted in order to recognize the current
status of utilization of information equipment
all together as well as that of networking and
open system environment in accordance with progress
of recent information and telecommunication
technology in the ministries/agencies and public
corporations. The number of computers installed
in ministries/agencies has increased nearly
in proportion to the increase of work. There
is a sharp trend toward what is called down-sizing
of computers especially from 1986 with rapid
increase in the number of small-scale computers
of the distributed processing type and PCs installed.
One PC was installed for 1.31 government employees
and local area networks (LAN) have been set
up in 22 ministries/agencies out of all 25 ministries/agencies
of the central national government at the end
of fiscal year 1995.
3. Establishment of Integrated
Administrative Information Network
For the purpose of forming
a rational and efficient network to satisfy
such needs, MCA has been developing the Integrated
Administrative Information Network to be commonly
used by ministries/agencies and others. Various
telecommunication functions are scheduled to
be added to it including the interconnection
of LAN's to meet demands of user organizations.
The Network currently covers all over Japan,
used by 821 organization.
4. Management and Operation
of the Inter-ministerial Computer Center
The Inter-ministerial Computer
Center has been established and managed by MCA
in order to promote efficient information systems
in the government as a whole. The Center, which
has organized an on-line network among all ministries/agencies,
offers the following services to the ministries/agencies.
1) Information Retrieval Systems:
Full text of existing laws and orders, cabinet
decisions, council reports have been stored
in the Center's databases to be offered for
common use by the ministries/agencies for retrieval.
2) Application Systems for
Some Ministries: Joint application systems such
as those for personnel management, payroll work
and mutual benefit schemes have been developed
and processed to rationalize this office work.
3) Switching Function of Database
Network: The Center provides a switching function
for efficient access to database of ministries/agencies
that could be available for other ministries/agencies.
5. Conducting Training
Courses on Information Systems
Recent years have seen a remarkable
prevalence of the computer and progress in technologies
regarding its use. Development of human resources
qualified and able to cope with diverse and
advanced administrative information systems
accordingly has become increasingly essential.
MCA therefore conducts training courses on information
systems to train and nurture staff necessary
for ministries/agencies, diffuse computer-related
knowledge, etc. 9731 personnel (as of end of
FY 1995) have taken the courses since the training
first started.
6. Security/Privacy
Under the framework established
by the "Act for Protection of Computer Processed
Personal Data held by Administrative Organs",
which was enacted in December 1988 and put in
force in October 1989, the government promotes
measures to protect personal data in order to
eliminate anxiety of the people and to cope
with fear of possible infringement of rights
and interests of individuals from a viewpoint
of coping with progress of computerized processing
of personal data. The act, as the general legislation
concerning the protection of computer processed
personal data held by administrative organs,
sets forth basic rules on the handling of the
personal data.The Act prescribes the following:
1) Regulations on the administrative
organs
Restrictions on holding personal
data files Obligations to assure security and
accuracy of personal data Compilation and public
inspection of personal data files directory
Restrictions on the use and provision of personal
data
2) Rights of individuals
Right to request for disclosure
of his/her own personal data Application for
correction of the personal data
3) Authorities of the Secretary
General of MCA
Requests for materials and
explanation to heads of administrative organs
Delivery of opinion concerning personal data
handling to them as well as to the Prime Minister.
APPENDIX
1. Outline of the Basic
Plan for Promoting Administrative Informatization
Administrative Informatization:
important measures to reform systems of administrative
work & activities and organization
* applying information and
telecommunication technologies to various fields
of public administration
* utilizing information systems
as indispensable tools for administrative and
organizational activities
* shifting information processing
from paper-based manner to electronic
Targets of the Plan are as
follows.
1) Upgraded and efficient
administrative work
1) Upgrading communications
and office work
* utilizing electronic information
of various fields of administrative work and
integrating information systems of office work
* establishing infrastructures
for smooth distribution and comprehensive use
of administrative information among ministries/agencies
Wide Area Network in the Kasumigaseki
area where headquarters of all ministries/agencies
are located; establishing an inter-ministerial
electronic-document interchange system; utilizing
new information and telecommunication technologies
such as distributed processing and multimedia;
etc.
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