About the Inquiry
The Committee proposed the introduction of a Bill which would limit the pre-release access (PRA) that Scottish Government Ministers and officials currently have to key economic data.
Correspondence
The Committee received a letter from the UK Statistics Authority on 24 September 2019. The Committee replied on 1 October 2019.
Report
The Committee published its report on 6 June 2019.
Pre-release Access – Committee Bill proposal report
Debate
On 19 September 2019 there was a debate regarding the proposal for a Committee Bill, contained in the Committee's report.
That the Parliament agrees under Rule 9.15 to the proposal for a Committee Bill contained in the 7th report (2019) of the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee, Pre-release Access - Committee Bill proposal report (SP Paper 553).
Motion agreed to, by division is: For 58, Against 0, Abstentions 48.
The Bill was introduced on 8 September 2020.
On 15 September 2020, the Royal Statistical Society wrote to the First Minister. On 24 September 2020 the Cabinet Secretary for Finance wrote to the Professor Deborah Ashby, President of the Royal Statistical Society. The Society replied on 9 October 2020.
Stage 1 - General principles
The Parliament agreed to the general principles of the Pre-release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Bill on 12 November 2020.
Stage 2 - Changes to detail
The Parliament considered the Pre-release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Bill on 27 January 2021.
Stage 3 – Final debate
The Parliament debated and passed the Bill on 4 March 2021.