E/ESCAP/STAT.10/Japan
25 October 1996
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Committee on Statistics
Tenth session
25-29 November 1996

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

1. Statistics on business enterprises
2. Household and family budget statistics
3. Service industry statistics
4. Statistics on trade and investment flows
5. Environment statistics
6. Labor statistics
7. Statistics on informal sector
8. Gender statistics

C-2. Reducing reporting burdens
C-3. Data dissemination and user services
C-4. International cooperation on statistics

1. Cooperation in the works of international organizations
2. Participation and cooperation in International Comparison Programme
3. Technical cooperation with other countries including training
4. Reporting, collection and use of international statistical information
5. IMF the Special Data Dissemination Standards
6. APEC Labor Market Information(LMI) data base
7. 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.

1. 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--
2. 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 --
3. 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 --
4. 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--
5. Efficient implementation and quality improvement of statistical surveys--
   Introduction of data collection through on-line networks in the statistics on business enterprises --
6. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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;

1. 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.);
2. 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) );
3. 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.

1. Steady reduction of reporting burdens through the examination of statistical surveys in view of promoting simplification and efficiency, and eliminating duplication of survey questions
2. Reflecting the opinions of respondents' easiness in answering questions when designing statistical surveys
3. 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.)
4. Restriction of collecting new statistical information through the use of administrative records and existing survey results.
5. Reduction of the mental reporting burdens through public relations and promoting the use of survey results.
6. 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;

1. abolition of "Mode-of-Trade Statistics Survey",
2. 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"
3. reduction of respondents of "Survey of Wages and Salaries at Private Firms" from 32,000 to 24,000,
4. decrease of frequency of "Survey on Seamen's Labour" from the quarter to a half year,
5. reduction of survey items of "Statistics of Construction Labour Material Unit (tentative name)" from 1,200 to 150.

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.

2) Comprehensive utilization of administrative information

* inter-ministerial utilization of databases through on-line networks

* building and expanding database common to the ministries 2) Upgrading quality of public services to the people àh Upgrading the quality of administrative information providing systems

* providing administrative information which could be delivered to the public through electronic systems and media

* providing the information from government gazettes, materials for public release, statistical reports, etc. through on-line network

* expanding the provision of administrative information such as through consultation and perusal, and upgrading the quality of public services over service counters review of existing legislation; expanding service hours and providing public services on holidays by applying information and telecommunication technologies Quick and upgraded administrative procedures

* electronic measures or on-line systems for application, reporting, notification, consultation, etc.

* simplification of counter services for application, reporting, etc.

3) Promoting other infrastructures

* enhancing infrastructures of organizational and human resources

establishing and enhancing organizational infrastructures necessary for the informatization in individual ministries/agencies; training and securing government staff necessary for establishing the informatization

2. Action Program on Common Issues for Promoting Administrative Informatization and Individual Programs of Ministries/Agencies

1) Action Program on Common Issues for Promoting Administrative Informatization The program is set to implement those common items in the ministries/agencies prescribed in the Basic Plan.

2) Individual Programs of Ministries/Agencies These programs are adopted separately and independently by those ministries/agencies based upon the Basic Plan.