1. Opening of the
session
Suitable arrangements will be made in due
course. The bureau of the tenth session of the
Committee on Statistics will preside in the
same capacity.
2. Adoption of
the agenda
The provisional agenda (STAT/WGSE.10/L.1)
will be adopted with whatever changes are deemed
necessary.
3. Report of the
bureau
The bureau will give a summary report (STAT/WGSE.10/1)
of its activities, including the meeting held
since the last session of the Committee.
4. An overview
of significant global and regional issues in
official statistics
The plans of action adopted at various recent
global conferences have cited the need for availability
in the countries of adequate statistical information
to facilitate the process of developing policies
and monitoring progress towards achieving goals
and targets. A secretariat paper (STAT/WGSE.10/2)
will describe issues relating to the recommendations
on official statistics which will not be covered
under other agenda items of this meeting. Other
significant statistical developments at the
global and regional levels will also be touched
on.
5. The year 2000
problem: strategic issues for national statistical
services
Many of the computer hardware and software
currently in use have only a two-digit code
for the value of the year. This is bound to
create problems in computer environments when
the year 1999 (i.e., 99) changes to 2000 (i.e.,
00). Applications may stop working altogether,
or potentially more harmful, give wrong results
that go undetected. The problems can appear
in operating systems, custom-made applications,
off-the-shelf software, as well as in all hardware
environments, including the mainframe, personal
computers (PCs) and networks. The Working Group
will review the implications of the year 2000
problem to mission-critical statistical applications
in the light of two invited papers (STAT/WGSE.10/3
and STAT/WGSE.10/4)
on practical approaches taken in the statistical
offices of New Zealand and Hong Kong, China.
6. The General
Data Dissemination System and Special Data Dissemination
Standard
A paper (STAT/WGSE.10/5)
contributed by the International Monetary Fund
will provide an update on developments related
to the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS)
and introduce the Fund's ongoing work on the
General Data Dissemination System (GDDS). The
Working Group will discuss various issues concerning
the application of these standards by the countries
of the region. The discussion may be supplemented
by a short secretariat note (STAT/WGSE.10/6).
7. Population and
housing censuses
Since the late 1980s ESCAP has been promoting
regional cooperation in population statistics.
A secretariat paper (STAT/WGSE.10/7)
will highlight recent developments and their
implications for recommendations for the 2000
round of censuses. An invited paper from Mongolia
(STAT/WGSE.10/8)
will focus on sharing country experience in
conducting population and housing censuses and
on design, plans and preparations for the first
census of the next millennium. The Working Group
will discuss the challenges and opportunities
confronting population and housing censuses
in the wake of changing circumstances, in terms
of demand for information technology developments
and the availability of external technical and
financial assistance.
8. Gender statistics
A secretariat paper (STAT/WGSE.10/9)
will provide an overview of the progress and
issues relating to gender statistics in the
region. An invited paper from the Philippines
(STAT/WGSE.10/10)
will describe the development of gender statistics
and successful mechanisms set up at the national
level. The Working Group will review progress
in improving the quality of gender statistics,
and focus on specific areas for which direct
measurement is difficult or where the information
collected is not reliable, such as unpaid work,
gender equity, violence against women and maternal
mortality.
9. Issues in implementing
the 1993 System of National Accounts
A secretariat paper (STAT/WGSE.10/11)
will discuss the recommendations of the Inter-Secretariat
Working Group on National Accounts on the progressive
implementation of the 1993 SNA based on the
statistical capability of the countries. It
will also raise general issues based on the
recommendations of the Working Group. An invited
paper from Thailand (STAT/WGSE.10/12)
will focus on country-specific issues in the
implementation, particularly on operationalization
of concepts, data requirements, human resources,
and policy implications of revised estimates.
10. Price statistics
An invited paper (STAT/WGSE.10/13)
will summarizes the issues that have been considered
in the current review of the Australian Consumer
Price Index and other prices statistics developments
in Australia. The work on inflation measurement
and a range of issues in regard to producer
price indexes will be discussed.
11. Review of the
programme of work in statistics, 1998-1999
A secretariat paper (STAT/WGSE.10/14)
will provide information on the programmes of
work in statistics 1998-1999, as approved by
the Commission, with a view to seeking advice
on any future changes and reorientation of activities
that might be submitted for the approval of
the Commission. The Working Group is also requested
to give its views on the priorities for the
work programme for the biennium 2000-2001.
12. Provisional
agenda for the eleventh session of the Committee
on Statistics
A secretariat note (STAT/WGSE.10/15)
will present the draft provisional agenda for
the eleventh session of the Committee on Statistics,
as amended in the light of decisions and observations
made by the Committee at its tenth session.
13. Other matters
The Working Group will consider other matters
of interest not covered elsewhere in this agenda.
14.Adoption of the report.
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