The Public Council for Statistics accompanies the professional-scientific work of the Central Bureau of Statistics. The Council was founded in 1963 and was granted its legal status in 1978, when the amendment to the Statistics Ordinance (New Version) 5732-1972 was approved.
The Council is composed of 50 to 80 members, who are appointed by the Prime Minister upon the recommendation of the National Statistician, from among the following bodies:
Government ministries, local authorities, national institutions and other institutions established by law that are engaged in statistical projects or require them. Institutions of higher education who have an institute, division or department of teaching or research in statistics. Other public bodies that are involved in statistical activities or require them.
Since its establishment, the Council constitutes a central and permanent meeting-place for the producers of statistical data and representatives of the main consumers of these data in the central and local administrations, in the economy, in institutions of research and information, in professional unions and in other public institutions. The Council provides a free public platform that gives room for exchanging ideas and discussing problems among the producers and consumers of statistics. This platform also provides an outlook on general and specific statistical matters, with a view of the needs of the country in the long-run.
The main subjects of the statistical system in the country are presented for discussion at the Council plenary sessions and, additionally, the Council establishes advisory boards on specific issues.
The functions of the Council are:
- To advise the Prime Minister and other ministers on matters relating to the statistical activities of State bodies;
- To advise the National Statistician on matters relating to the statistical activities which are performed by the Bureau;
- To receive from State bodies their plans for the performance of statistical activities and to present its opinion on the coordination between the bodies regarding these plans;
- To present proposals for the development and improvement of statistical activities done by of State bodies.
