Part 1The Statistics Board
Information sharing
F145GCode of practice on changes to data systems
(1)
The Board must prepare, adopt and publish a code of practice containing guidance on the matters to be taken into account by a public authority in making changes to—
(a)
its processes for collecting, organising, storing or retrieving information, or
(b)
its processes (if any) for supplying information to the Board.
(2)
A public authority must have regard to any code of practice under this section in making such changes.
(3)
The Board may at any time revise a code of practice under this section and, if it decides to do so, must publish the code as revised.
(4)
In preparing or revising a code of practice under this section, the Board must consult—
(a)
the Minister for the Cabinet Office,
(b)
the Scottish Ministers,
(c)
the Welsh Ministers,
(d)
the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland, and
(e)
such other persons as the Board thinks fit.
(5)
The fact that this section was not in force when consultation of the kind mentioned in subsection (4) took place is to be disregarded in determining whether there has been compliance with that subsection.
(6)
The Board may not publish the original code of practice under this section unless a draft of the code has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament
(7)
Before publishing a revised code of practice under this section the Board must lay a draft of the code as proposed to be published before Parliament.
(8)
The Board may not publish the revised code of practice if, within the 40-day period, either House of Parliament resolves not to approve it.
(9)
In subsection (8) “the 40 day period” means—
(a)
the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which the draft is laid before Parliament, or
(b)
if the draft is not laid before each House on the same day, the period of 40 days beginning with the later of the days on which it is laid before Parliament.
(10)
For the purposes of subsection (9) no account is to be taken of any period during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.
(11)
After preparing or revising a code of practice under this section the Board must lay the code, or the code as revised, before—
(a)
the Scottish Parliament,
(b)
the National Assembly for Wales, and
(c)
the Northern Ireland Assembly.
(12)
The reference in subsection (1) to making changes to a process includes introducing or removing a process.
(13)
This section binds the Crown.
(14)
The reference to the Crown in subsection (13) does not include—
(a)
Her Majesty in Her private capacity,
(b)
Her Majesty in right of the Duchy of Lancaster, or
(c)
the Duke of Cornwall.