Political fight begins to keep Jersey stats independent

Friday 15 January 2021

An Assistant Minister is drawing up plans to free Statistics Jersey of its ties to Government after Express revealed a two-year row to protect its independence.

Deputy Kirsten Morel wants the body responsible for data on everything from population size to house prices, the cost of living, and the health of the island’s economy to be grant-funded and for the Chief Statistician to work only for Statistics Jersey, and no other area within Government.

The unit officially became ‘independent’ in 2018, but there were concerns that legislation underpinning its operations didn’t provide enough protection.

Its budget and resources are still controlled by the Government - presently, the Director General of the Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance Department, which was created in the Chief Executive’s ‘OneGov’ reform.

 Its staff are also still legally classed as ‘civil servants’, preventing them from being able to make any comments on data, even to States Members - something they were supposed to be able to do without fear of repercussion under the 2018 law.

Law changes were suggested by Government in the years that followed, but, according to minutes of a September 2020 Statistics Users Group meeting, these left the Chief Statistician “too constrained” when he “should be able to explain SJ statistics and methodology to States Members and other public bodies."

Pictured: Statistics Jersey is responsible for putting out impartial reports on many different aspects of island life.

Amid the ongoing saga, highly respected Chief Statistician Dr Duncan Gibaut stopped working in November 2020 after 20 years of service, and just months before his unit’s most important project in a decade: the 2021 census. 

His role has since been replaced by an interim Director of Analytics and Statistics, who will oversee both Statistics Jersey and SPPP’s new analytics team, and will still be accountable to the SPPP Director General.

A Government spokesperson maintained that the changes would not infringe on the independence of the unit, adding that “Ministers have always respected the independence of Statistics Jersey” and would be seeking to bring forward law changes later in 2021.

But Deputy Morel said this was of no comfort, and that he found the development “hugely worrying.”

He said he could see no reason why a head of analytics alone could not have been appointed and that instead the Chief Statistician’s role had been merged with one within Government, creating what he described as a “clear conflict.”

“It’s so important that everyone has trust in our statistics… If the Children’s Commissioner was also head of CYPES, people wouldn’t be able to trust her as the Children’s Commissioner. You’re acting for Government on the one hand, and trying to be impartial on the other,” Deputy Morel explained. 

He is therefore working on a proposition to sever the financial tie with Government by making the body grant-funded and independent, and is hoping to lodge it “as soon as possible.” 

The proposal will also ask that States Members agree that the Chief Statistician should hold no other role within Government.

“This is about good governance and trust,” he added, “It goes to the fundamentals of democracy.”

Deputy Morel was among many States Members past and present to express concern and outrage at the state of affairs preceding the Chief Statistician’s departure.

Chief Scrutineer Senator Kristina Moore, who is planning an official review into the culture of Government, commented: “It’s terrible to see another talented local civil servant leave the Government. This is sadly another example of the cultural issues that are at play. The civil service should be allowed to operate in an impartial and professional manner and Mr Gibaut always displayed the highest integrity. Why is it that those who defend the service for the right reasons seem to leave?

“The CEO suggested in his departure letter that people who don’t agree with him are resistant to change – I guess the question is, what sort of change has he been imposing on the Jersey civil service?”  

Pictured: Chief Scrutineer Senator Kristina Moore said the statistics saga pointed to further culture issues within Government.

Reform Jersey have also pledged to probe what went wrong.

The party’s leader, Senator Sam Mézec, described the statistics saga as a “scandal”, while Deputy Rob Ward responded to the news: "My concerns over governance of Jersey by COM get stronger every day.” 

I can’t tell you how angry I am reading this.

This is a scandal. https://t.co/P5rycX1IKu

— Senator Sam Mézec (@SamMezecJsy) January 14, 2021

Deputy Geoff Southern will be grilling the Chief Minister on the matter at the next States Assembly meeting, asking: “Will the Chief Minister explain how the proposal to create the new post of Director of Analytics and Statistics, operating from the SPPP Department and ultimately responsible to the SPPP Director General, does not remove the necessary independence of Statistics Jersey?” 

Former Treasury Minister Senator Philip Ozouf wrote on Twitter: “Bailiwick Express’s article is serious and needs investigating. If [Statistics Jersey’s] independence has been compromised, action is needed.” 

Just one example of how highly regarded the now apparently ‘removed’ Chief Statistician was held @keenjersey @bailiwickxpress ‘s article is serious & needs investigating

If @JsyStats Independence has been compromised, action is needed

Past & Present SUG Chairs views needed https://t.co/yvPadd5qwq pic.twitter.com/i9bTEsGDlD

— Philip Ozouf (@philipozouf) January 14, 2021

Previous St. Helier Deputy Jennifer Bridge tweeted this morning: “Feeling v emotional about the whole #Jerseystats debacle. Without independent stats, we, the public, have nothing. When I stood for election in 1999 the 1st thing I did was get a copy of the stats pocket booklet (no longer produced) & memorise it!” 

READ MORE… 

Independence row triggers Chief Statistician’s departure

INSIGHT: The struggle to keep Jersey’s statistics independent