The amendments to the Law on Official Statistics which entered into force on 8 October 2020 set a new role for Statistics Lithuania and expanded functions thereof. The main change: creation of a legal basis for the State Data Governance Information System.

The purpose of the State Governance Information system is creation of a common space, based on prepared data management platform, covering the entire data management cycle and ensuring data accessibility for the state needs, efficient exchange between institutions and sharing with business and science community in creating the common good.

“It is an incredible breakthrough in data management and a whole new approach to data. Previously we collected data according to the Official Statistics Programme approved a year ago, and in cases when more prompt or detailed information was needed there was no legal basis allowing collection of such data. At best, they were included in the next year’s programme. In case of the need for prompt information, the time is important and the longer it takes the more value is lost.  Now, when necessary, we will be able to quickly extract the data from the data lake and prepare information; in short, we will empower the state data”, – Dr. Jūratė Petrauskienė, Director General of Statistics Lithuania, said.

The efficiency and benefits of the data management system has been already tested during the COVID-19 pandemic when an analogous system was used to collect, from various state institutions, the prompt and relevant data on coronavirus morbidity, testing scope, situation in health care institutions as well as impact of pandemic on population, business and economy.

The new provisions of the law will allow Statistics Lithuania to conduct the surveys that are not provided in the Official Statistics Programme.

Statistics Lithuania could not provide part of statistical data due to confidentiality. For example, it was not possible to publish the lists of companies by activity. After the amendment of the law, company code, name, economic activity, institutional sector, form of ownership are not considered confidential data.

Amendments to the law abandon paper forms. This will reduce the cost of collecting and processing of statistical data.

The new version of the Law on Official Statistics is available at www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/TAR.026F44E06A27/asr.