Chapter 1. Administrative data-processing systems
§1-l
An administrative data-processing system is understood to be
information which state agencies and nationwide municipal organisations
collect and store in such a manner that the information may be retrieved for
use in connection with the activities of the agency or the organisation.
The term "main administrative data-processing systems" shall refer to data-processing systems which either are or are intended to be nationwide, or which cover a large part of the country.
§1-2
Statistics Norway shall have access to administrative data-processing systems where this may ensure more efficient public use of the data collected for administrative purposes. If, in the judgement of Statistics Norway, information from administrative data-processing systems under an obligation to provide information may afford a suitable data base for the compilation of appropriate official statistics, Statistics Norway may impose an obligation to provide information pursuant to § 2-2 of the Statistics Act.
§1-3
State agencies and nationwide municipal organisations shall on their own initiative inform Statistics Norway when the establishment of important new administrative data-processing systems is being planned or when there are plans to change such systems. Statistics Norway may issue more detailed provisions concerning the form of these reports.
Statistics Norway may forward proposals concerning how an administrative
dataprocessing system shall be designed so that it may also be used for
statistical purposes; this includes proposals concerning:
Chapter 2. Coordination of statistics
§ 2-1
Major statistical surveys are understood in this context to be nationwide surveys or surveys which cover a large part of the country if the number of informants or the arnount of information is large.
§2-2
When administrative agencies are planning to carry out major statistical investigations, they shall on their own initiative inform Statistics Norway. Statistics Norway may issue more detailed provisions concerning the form of these reports.
§2-3
In order to safeguard consideration for statistics and coordination, Statistics
Norway may forward proposals concerning how information shall be collected and
the manner in which statistics shall be compiled; this includes proposals
concerning:
Emphasis shall be placed on consideration for the costs to the parties concerned of collecting information and compiling statistics.
§ 2-4
Statistics Norway may decide that the statistical results shall also be published wholly or in part by Statistics Norway.
Chapter 3. Compulsory fines
§3-1
Statistics Norway may impose compulsory fines for failure to respect the deadline for the provision of information laid down pursuant to § 2-2 of the Statistics Act.
Compulsory fines may be determined in advance or in connection with the setting of a new deadline for the provision of information.
§3-2
Compulsory fines may be stipulated either as flat sum fines or as accruing compulsory fines. A flat sum fine may be repeated when new deadlines are set until the information is provided. In the case of accruing compulsory fines, the amount of the fine will accrue until the information is provided. In determining the size of the fine, Statistics Norway shall inter alia take into consideration the costs to the informant of fulfilling the obligation to provide information so that the fine has a sufficient preventive effect. If repeated, compulsory fines may be set at a higher amount.
§3-4
In the case of compulsory fines determined in advance, flat sum fines shall be payable from the date on which the obligation to provide information is breached. In the case of compulsory fines determined after the fact, the fines shall be payable on the first working day after a new deadline for the obligatory provision of information has expired.
Accruing compulsory fines shall be payable as they accumulate.
§ 3-5
Statistics Norway may in special cases waive compulsory fines wholly or in part when there are very compelling reasons for so doing.
§3-6
Appeals against decisions to impose compulsory fines may be lodged with the Ministry of Finance.
Chapter 4. The executive committee of Statistics Norway
§4-1
The executive committee convenes for meetings when summoned by the chairman as often as is necessary with respect to the matters to be dealt with, or at the request of no fewer than three members of the executive committee.
Notice of a meeting shall be in writing and shall as far as possible be given 14 days in advance. A copy of the notice and documents shall also be sent to the deputies.
The director general shall attend the meetings of the executive committee.
The chairman of the executive committee shall preside over meetings. If the chairman is absent, the vice-chairman shall preside.
To constitute a quorum of the executive committee, the chairman or vice-chairman and no fewer than three members of the executive committee or their deputies, and the director general or the person who is acting as director general must be present.
§4-2
All members of the executive committee and their deputies shall have access to all documents concerning matters related to the committee's sphere of activity.
Matters which are the subject of negotiations and/or discussions with the staff shall be taken up with the trade unions in Statistics Norway in accordance with the General Agreement and the special agreement for Statistics Norway concerning codetermination, before being dealt with by the executive committee.
§4-3
The executive committee shall keep minutes which shall be to be signed by the members attending and the director general. The members of the executive committee and the director general may demand to have dissent recorded in the minutes.
A copy of the minutes shall be sent without delay to the Ministry of Finance and to the Office of the Auditor General for information.
Chapter 5. The director general
§5-1
The director general shall be responsible for the administration of Statistics Norway except in those matters which come under the auspices of the executive committee.
§5-2
The director general shall, in accordance with the provisions of the
Statistics Act, prepare and put before the executive committee proposals for
§5-3
The director general is responsible for the activities of Statistics Norway and shall ensure that the prescribed work programme is carried out in the most appropriate and economical manner possible under current legislation and regulations, that the activities of Statistics Norway otherwise follow current provisions, and that annual allocations are used in accordance with the resolutions passed by the Storting and the given budgetary conditions and rules currently in force for financial management and office administration.
§5-4
The director general shall put before the executive committee matters which are of major significance or which are in principle of interest for official Norwegian statistics or for the activities of Statistics Norway, including matters which will have significant consequences for subsequent budgets.
§5-5
The director general shall ensure that matters which are put before the executive committee and the Ministry have been sufficiently studied and documented, and that they are presented at the right time.
Chapter 6. Entry into force
The Statistics Act (Act No. 54 of 16 June 1989) and these Regulations shall come into force on 16 February 1990.
§ 2-7 of the Statistics Act concerning the duration and cessation of the obligation of secrecy also applies to information collected pursuant to the Statistics Act of 1907, information collected pursuant to special legislation, information collected from public bodies and information collected on a voluntary basis before the current Act came into force.