MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY [ CAP. 422.  1
CHAPTER 422
MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY ACT
AN ACT to provide for the establishment of an Authority to be known as
the Malta Statistics Authority, and for the exercise by or on behalf of that
Authority of regulatory functions regarding resources relating to the
collection, compilation and publishing of official statistics, and to make
provision with respect to matters ancillary thereto or connected therewith. 
1st March, 2001
ACT XXIV of 2000.
P A R T  I
P R E L I M I N A R Y
Short title.
Act.
Interpretation.
“advisory committee” or “committee” mean an advisory
committee established in accordance with article 33;
“Authority” means the Malta Statistics Authority established by
article 3;
“Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority and
includes, in the circumstances mentioned in article 5(2), the Deputy
Chairperson or other person appointed to act as chairperson:
Provided that in relation to article 34, “Chairperson” means
the Chairperson of an advisory committee; 
“confidential data” means data obtained by the National
Statistics Office for the production of official statistics when such
data allows statistical units to be identified directly or indirectly,
thereby disclosing individual information;
“copy” means the reproduction of a record or any part thereof by
writing, photocopying, electronic or any other means;
“Director General” means the person so appointed by virtue of
article 9;
“directorates” means any such directorates as may be established
by regulations made under article 42;
“employee” means a person employed by the Authority;
“financial year” means any period of twelve months ending on
the 30 th  September:
Provided that the first financial year of the Authority shall
begin on the coming into force of this Act and shall end on the 30 th
September of the next following year; 
“functions” includes powers and duties;
“impartiality” means the objective and independent manner of
producing official statistics free from any pressure from political or
other interest groups, particularly as regards the selection of
2 [ CAP. 422. MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY
techniques, definitions and methodologies best suited to the
attainment of the objectives as set out; it implies the availability of
statistics to all users;
Cap. 363. “local council” means a council set up under the Local Councils
Act;
“Malta” has the same meaning as is assigned to it by article 124
of the Constitution;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for statistics;
“Office” means the National Statistics Office established by
article 9;
“official statistics” means information obtained by processing
data in order to characterize collective phenomena in a considered
population in the framework of implementation of the business plan
of the Office;
“population” means any set or subset of statistical units, whether
such units are natural persons, legal persons or any other economic
unit;
“premises” includes any dwelling, building, place, vessel or
aircraft within or on territory which falls under the jurisdiction of
Malta;
“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations or orders made
under this Act;
“production of official statistics” means all the activities
necessary for the preparation, collection, storage, processing,
compilation, analysis and dissemination of statistical information;
“public authority” means any government department, local
council, official board or committee and any other public body
established by law;
“public officer”, in relation to article 12, has the same meaning
as is assigned to it by article 124 of the Constitution, but does not
include a Judge of the Superior Courts or a Magistrate of the
Inferior Courts;
“record” includes any paper, photographic, electronic, or other
mode of recording or storing information and any form, schedule,
questionnaire, or any other such document;
“reliability” means that the statistics shall reflect as faithfully as
possible the reality which they are designed to represent; it implies
that scientific criteria are used for the selection of sources, methods
and procedures;
“statistics” includes, in addition to numerical data, all other
information which is necessary for the collection, compilation,
analysis and interpretation of data;
“transparency” means the rights of respondents to have
information on the legal basis under which the data is required and
the protective measures adopted to protect the identity of the
respondent;
“undertaking” means any economic unit and includes
MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY [ CAP. 422.  3
institutions, groups of undertakings and associates, whether private
or public.
P A R T  II
E S T A B L I S H M E N T , F U N C T I O N   A N D  C O N D U C T   O F  A F F A I R S   O F   T H E  
A U T H O R I T Y
Establishment of 
the Malta Statistics 
Authority.
3. (1) There shall be a body, to be known as the Malta
Statistics Authority, which shall exercise and perform the functions
assigned to it by this Act.
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate having a distinct
legal personality and shall be capable, subject to the provisions of
this Act, of entering into contracts, of acquiring, holding and
disposing of any kind of property for the purposes of its functions,
or suing and being sued, and of doing all such things and entering
into all such transactions as are incidental or conducive to the
exercise or performance of its functions under this Act, including
the lending or borrowing of money. 
Legal and judicial 
representation.
4. The legal and judicial representation of the Authority shall
be vested in the Chairperson of the Authority:
Provided that the Authority may from time to time appoint
any one or more of its members, or any one or more of its officers
or employees, to appear in its name and on its behalf in any judicial
proceedings or on any act, contract, instrument or other document
whatsoever.
Composition of the 
Authority.
5. (1) The Authority shall be composed as follows:
( a ) a chairperson appointed by the Minister;
( b ) the Director General  ex officio ;
( c ) six other members, who shall have the necessary
technical competence in the domain of statistics, to be
appointed by the Minister, being-
(i) one member, after consultation with the Central
Bank of Malta;
(ii) one member, after consultation with the trade
union movement, as represented on the Malta
Council for Economic Development;
(iii) one member, after consultation with the
University of Malta;
(iv) one member, after consultation with the business
community, as represented on the Malta Council
for Economic Development; and
(v) two members, being professionals in the field of
statistics, so appointed by the Minister.
(2) The Minister may designate one of the appointed members
of the Authority as Deputy Chairperson and the member so
designated shall have all the powers and perform all the functions
of the Chairperson during his absence or inability to act as
chairperson or while the Chairperson is on vacation or during any
vacancy in the office of chairperson; and the Minister may also, in
4 [ CAP. 422. MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY
any circumstances aforesaid, appoint another person to act as
Chairperson and in such case the foregoing provisions shall apply
in respect of such person. 
(3) The members of the Authority, other than the Director
General, shall be appointed by the Minister for a term of one year
or for such longer period as may be specified in the instrument of
appointment, subject to a maximum of three years, but the members
so appointed may be re-appointed on the expiration of their term of
office.
(4) ( a ) The Authority shall appoint one of its officers to act as
secretary for such period as it shall deem appropriate.
( b ) It shall be the duty of the secretary to make the
necessary preparations for the meetings of the
Authority and to keep minutes of those meetings.
(5) ( a ) A person shall not be eligible to be appointed or to
hold office as Chairperson or as a member of the
Authority if he -
(i) is a Minister, Parliamentary Secretary, a member
of the House of Representatives, or a member of
any Local Council; or
(ii) is a Judge or a Magistrate of the Courts of
Justice; or
(iii) is legally incapacitated; or
(iv) has been declared bankrupt or has made a
composition or arrangement with his creditors;
or
(v) has committed an offence involving fraud or
other dishonesty, or has contravened any
provision of law designed for protecting
members of the public against financial loss due
to dishonesty, incompetence or malpractice by
persons involved in business activities or in
carrying on a profession, or has engaged in any
business practice appearing to the Minister to be
deceitful or oppressive or otherwise improper
(whether unlawful or not) or which otherwise
reflects discredit on his method of conducting
business or his profession; or
(vi) has a financial or other interest in any enterprise
or activity which is likely to affect the discharge
of his functions as a member of the Authority:
Provided that the Minister may waive the
disqualification of a person under this paragraph
if such person declares the interest and such
declaration and waiver are published in the
Gazette; or
(vii) is otherwise not a fit and proper person to hold
that office.
( b ) In determining whether a person is a fit and proper
person under paragraph ( a )(vii), the Minister shall
MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY [ CAP. 422.  5
have regard to that person’s probity, to his competence
and soundness of judgment for fulfilling the
responsibilities of that office, to the diligence with
which he is fulfilling or is likely to fulfil those
responsibilities and to whether the interest of any
person are, or are likely to be in any way threatened, by
his holding that office.
( c ) Any person whom the Minister has appointed or
proposes to appoint as a member of the Authority shall,
whenever requested by the Minister to do so, furnish to
him such information as the Minister considers
necessary for the performance of the Minister’s duties
under paragraphs ( a ) and ( b ).
( d ) A member of the Authority may be relieved from
office by the Minister on the ground of inability to
perform the functions of his office, whether due to
infirmity of mind or of body, or to any other cause, or
of misbehaviour; and for the purposes of this paragraph
repeated and unjustified non-attendance at meetings
may be deemed to amount to misbehaviour.
( e ) The names of all the members of the Authority and any
change in such membership shall be published in the
Gazette.
( f ) Any member of the Authority, other than the   Director
General, may resign from office by letter addressed to
the Minister.
(6)  Any member of the Authority who has any direct or
indirect interest in any contract made or proposed to be made by the
Authority, not being an interest which disqualifies such member
from remaining a member, shall, not later than the first meeting
held after the relevant circumstances have come to his knowledge,
disclose the nature of his interest, and the member having an
interest as aforesaid shall withdraw from any meetings at which
such contract is discussed. Any such disclosure shall be
communicated to the Minister without delay. Where the interest of
the member is such as to disqualify him from remaining a member,
he shall report the fact immediately to the Minister and tender his
resignation. 
(7) If a member resigns or if the office of a member of the
Authority is otherwise vacant or if a member is for any reason
unable to perform the functions of his office, the Minister may
appoint a person who is qualified to be appointed to be a member to
be a temporary member of the Authority; and any person so
appointed shall, subject to the provisions of subarticle (5), cease to
be such a member when a person has been appointed to fill the
vacancy or, as the case may be, when the member who was unable
to perform the functions of his office resumes those functions. 
(8) The Chairperson and members of the Authority, except the
Director General, shall be paid such  honoraria  as the Minister may
determine.
6 [ CAP. 422. MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY
Conduct of the 
affairs of the 
Authority.
6. (1) Subject to any other provisions of this Act, the
Authority may regulate its own procedure.
(2) The Authority shall meet at least twice every calendar
quarter.
(3) The Authority may exercise its functions notwithstanding
any vacancy in its membership, as long as such vacancies do not
exceed three in number.
(4) Meetings of the Authority shall be convened by the
Chairperson or, in his absence, by the Deputy Chairperson, either
on his own initiative or at the written request of any three of the
other members of the Authority.
(5) Decisions shall be taken by a simple majority of votes of
the members present and voting. The Chairperson or, in his
absence, the Deputy Chairperson, or other person appointed to act
as chairperson, shall have an initial vote and, in the event of an
equality of votes, a casting vote. Without prejudice to the other
requirements of this Act, no decision shall be valid unless it is
supported by at least three members of the Authority. 
(6) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this article, no act or
proceeding of the Authority shall be invalidated merely by reason
of the existence of any vacancy among the members.
(7) All acts done by any person acting in good faith, as a
member of the Authority, shall be valid as if he were a member
notwithstanding that some defect in his appointment or
qualification be afterwards discovered. No act or proceeding of the
Authority shall be questioned on the ground of the contravention,
by a member, of the provisions of article 5(6). 
Functions of the 
Authority.
7. (1) The Authority shall have the following functions:
( a ) to examine and submit, for the approval of the
Minister, the business plan and financial estimates
drawn up by the Director General for the
administration of the Office;
( b ) to regulate and to generally supervise the production
of official statistics in accordance with international
requirements and standards;
( c ) to discuss and advise on statistical matters, including
methodologies, relating to the collection, compilation
and dissemination of statistics;
( d ) to establish priorities in responding to the demand for
official statistics;
( e ) to liaise between the Office and other public bodies
concerning the supply of data and the coordination of
activities with statistical implications;
( f ) to publish the business plan after its approval by the
Minister and the Minister of Finance;
( g ) to disseminate the knowledge of official statistics;
( h ) to consider and comment where necessary on the
yearly report submitted by the Director General on the
MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY [ CAP. 422.  7
work of the Office as required by article 9(5)( g ).
(2) For the better performance of its functions, the Authority
may establish contacts and forms of collaboration and
understandings with other local and foreign statutory bodies,
government departments, international organisations, and other
entities which exercise regulatory, supervisory or licensing powers,
under any law in Malta or abroad or which are otherwise engaged
in gathering statistics, which could be directly or indirectly
beneficial to the Authority.
(3) The members of the Authority, other than the Director
General, shall not have access to confidential information
pertaining to any individual person, household or undertaking
unless they are appointed officers of statistics as defined in article
11.
(4) Nothing in subarticle (1) shall be construed as enabling the
Authority to exercise any power or function already assigned to the
Director General under this Act.
(5) The members of the Authority shall not take instructions
from the Government or any other authority, political parties or any
other interest groups, in the selection of data sources, statistical
methods and procedures, in the contents, form and time of
dissemination, and in the application of statistical confidentiality.
Relations between 
the Minister and 
the Authority.
8. (1) The Minister may, in relation to matters that appear to
him to affect the public interest, from time to time give to the
Authority directions in writing of a general character, not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, on the policy to be
followed in the carrying out of the functions vested in the
Authority, by or under this Act, and the Authority shall, as soon as
may be, give effect to all such directions.
(2) The Authority shall afford to the Minister facilities for
obtaining information with respect to its property and activities and
furnish him with returns, accounts and other information with
respect thereto, and afford to him facilities for the verification of
information furnished, in such manner and at such times as he may
reasonably require.
(3) If the Authority fails to comply with any directions issued
under this article, the Prime Minister may make an order
transferring to the Minister in whole or in part any of the functions
of the Authority.
Establishment of 
the National 
Statistics Office 
and appointment of 
Director General.
9. (1) There shall be established an office to be designated as
the National Statistics Office, hereinafter referred to as the
''Office''.
(2) There shall be a Director General who shall head the Office
and who shall have the legal representation thereof.
(3) The Director General shall be a person with professional
qualifications, recognised competence and reputation in the domain
of statistics, and shall be appointed by the Authority following
consultation with the Minister for a period of three years; such
period may be extended for further periods of three years each:
8 [ CAP. 422. MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY
Provided that the first Director General shall be appointed by the
Minister for an initial period of five years.
(4) The Director General shall be responsible for and shall
carry out the day-to-day operations of the Office within the
Authority in accordance with the general lines of policy established
by the Authority from time to time.
(5) The Director General shall discharge his duties relating to
the Office autonomously. In the performance of his duties, the
Director General shall -
( a ) maintain the integrity and validity of official statistics
and public confidence in them;
( b ) decide, on the basis of professional and ethical
considerations, the scope and purpose of the statistics
provided for in the business plan, and on the methods
and procedures for the collection, compilation,
storage, presentation and publication of data;
( c ) be responsible for the observance of the provisions of
this Act relating to confidentiality;
( d ) ensure that the Office is equipped with the necessary
information technology facilities for the efficient
processing of statistical information;
( e ) draw up draft business plans in accordance with
Government norms and procedures;
( f ) represent the Office in international agencies and
organisations;
( g ) submit an annual report on the work of the Office to
the Authority;
( h ) develop the necessary strategies for the
implementation of the objectives of the Authority;
( i ) advise the Authority on any matter it may refer to him
or on any matter which he considers necessary or
expedient; and 
( j ) carry out such other duties as the Authority may assign
to him from time to time.
Functions of the 
Office.
10. (1) The functions of the Office shall be the collection,
compilation, extraction and release of official statistics relating to
demographic, social, environmental, economic and general
activities and conditions of Malta as specified in the First Schedule.
(2) The Office shall -
( a ) provide on an impartial basis, quantitive and
representative information about the economic,
demographic, gender issues, social and environmental
situation in Malta, to all users including the
Parliament, the Government, institutions, social and
economic operators, academic institutions and bodies
and the general public; where possible such data
should be provided on a regional basis;
( b ) produce the data, and shall be subject to the principles
MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY [ CAP. 422.  9
of reliability, objectivity, relevance, statistical
confidentiality, transparency, specificity, and
proportionality. Moreover, the Office shall produce
statistics which shall aim to mirror as faithfully as
possible the real situations, disseminate the results to
the public and the users thereof in a neutral and
impartial way, focus on the phenomena which are
essential for decision makers and honour the citizens’
right to public information. Individual information in
identifiable form, collected for statistical purposes,
shall not be used for other purposes than as provided
for in this Act;
( c ) supply the information necessary to evaluate the
quality of official statistics, and make accessible to the
public the methods used for their production, and how
the principles, under which such statistics are
gathered, are complied with;
( d ) provide such technical explanations of the result so as
to avoid erroneous interpretation;
( e ) conduct research on and further develop statistical
methodology and technology;
( f ) monitor and coordinate the carrying out of tasks with
statistical implications imposed on other public
bodies;
( g ) coordinate the production of official statistics’
systems, including the necessary methodologies, with
a view to ensuring timelines and standardisation of
information, efficiency and to meeting users’
requirements; as well as to provide appropriate
classifications and conformity with international
requirements and standards;
( h ) collect the necessary information, compile the results
at appropriate levels and break-downs, and
disseminate them to users.
P A R T  III 
O F F I C E R S   A N D  E M P L O Y E E S   O F   T H E  A U T H O R I T Y
Staff appointments.
appointment of officers and other employees of the Authority shall
be made by the Authority. The terms and conditions of employment
shall be established by the Authority with the concurrence of the
Minister.
Appointment and 
functions of 
officers and 
employees of the 
Authority.
12. (1) The Authority shall appoint and employ, at such
remuneration and upon such terms and conditions as it may, in
accordance with article 11, determine, such officers and employees
of the Authority as may from time to time be necessary for the due
and efficient discharge of the functions of the Authority.
Cap. 9.
(2) The members of the Authority, all officers and employees
of the Authority and the members of advisory committees shall be
10 [ CAP. 422. MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY
deemed to be public officers within the meaning of the Criminal
Code.
(3) The Minister and the members of the Authority and its
officers shall not, for a period of one year following the termination
of their appointment or office, engage in any activity which, in
accordance with the provisions of article 5(5)( a )(vi), would
disqualify a person from holding office as a member of the
Authority.
Detailing of public 
officers for duty 
with the Authority.
13. (1) The Prime Minister may, at the request of the
Authority, from time to time direct that any public officer shall be
detailed for duty with the Authority in such capacity and with
effect from such date as may be specified in the direction.
(2) The period during which a direction as aforesaid shall
apply to any officer specified therein shall, unless the officer retires
from the public service, or otherwise ceases to hold office at an
earlier date, or unless a different date is specified in such direction,
cease to have effect after one year from the effective date of such
direction unless the direction is revoked earlier by the Prime
Minister.
Status of public 
officers detailed 
for duty with the 
Authority.
14. (1) Where any officer is detailed for duty with the
Authority under any of the provisions of article 13, such officer
shall, during the time in which such direction has effect in relation
to him, be under the administrative authority and control of the
Authority, but he shall for all other intents and purposes remain and
be considered and treated as a public officer.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, an
officer detailed for duty as aforesaid -
( a ) shall not, during the time in respect of which he is so
detailed -
(i) be precluded from applying for a transfer to a
department of the Government in accordance
with the terms and conditions of service attached
to the appointment under the Government held
by him at a date on which he is so detailed for
duty; or
(ii) be so employed that his remuneration and
conditions of service are less favourable than
those which are attached to the appointment
under the Government held by him at the date
aforesaid or which would have become attached
to such appointment, during the said period, had
such officer not been detailed for duty with the
Authority; and
Cap. 93.
Cap. 58.
( b ) shall be entitled to have his service with the authority
considered as service with the Government for the
purposes of any pension, gratuity, or benefit under the
Pensions Ordinance and under the Widows’ and
Orphans’ Pensions Act and of any other right or
privilege to which he would be entitled, and shall be
liable to any liability to which he would be liable, but
for the fact of his being detailed for duty with the
MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY [ CAP. 422.  11
Authority.
(3) Where an application is made as provided in subarticle
(2)( a )(i), the same consideration shall be given thereto as if the
applicant had not been detailed for service with the Authority.
(4) The Authority shall pay to the Government such
contributions as may from time to time be determined by the
Minister of Finance in respect of the cost of pensions and gratuities
earned by an officer detailed for duty with the Authority as
aforesaid during the period in which he is so detailed.
Offer of permanent 
employment with 
the Authority to 
public officers 
detailed for duty 
with the Authority.
15. (1) The Authority may, with the approval of the Prime
Minister, offer to any officer detailed for duty with the Authority
under any of the provisions of article 13 permanent employment
with the Authority at a remuneration and on terms and conditions
not less favourable than those enjoyed by such officer at the date of
such offer.
(2) The terms and conditions comprised in any offer made as
aforesaid shall not be deemed to be less favourable merely because
they are not in all respects identical with or superior to those
enjoyed by the officer concerned at the date of such offer, if such
terms and conditions, taken as a whole, in the opinion of the Prime
Minister, offer substantially equivalent or greater benefits.
Cap. 93.
Cap. 58.
(3) Every officer who accepts permanent employment with the
Authority offered to him under the provisions of subarticle (1)
shall, for all purposes other than those of the Pensions Ordinance
and of the Widows’ and Orphans’ Pensions Act and, saving the
provisions of subarticle (6), be deemed to have ceased to be in the
service of the Government and to have entered into service with the
Authority on the date of his acceptance, and for the purposes of the
said Ordinance and of the said Act, so far as applicable to him,
service with the Authority shall be deemed to be service with the
Government within the meanings thereof respectively.
Cap. 58.
(4) Every such officer as aforesaid who, immediately before
accepting permanent employment with the Authority, was entitled
to benefit under the Widows’ and Orphans’ Pensions Act, shall
continue to be so entitled to benefit thereunder to all intents as if
his service with the Authority were service with the Government.
(5) The Authority shall pay to the Government such
contributions as may from time to time be determined by the
Minister of Finance in respect of the cost of pensions and gratuities
earned by an officer who has accepted permanent employment with
the Authority as aforesaid during the period commencing on the
date of such officer’s acceptance.
Cap. 93.
emoluments of such public officer on retirement shall be deemed to
be the pensionable emoluments payable to an officer in
Government service in a grade and at an incremental level
corresponding to the post and incremental level at which the officer
retires for the Authority.
(7) ( a ) For the purposes of this article, posts and salary grades
with the Authority shall be classified in the most
12 [ CAP. 422. MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY
nearly corresponding grades and incremental levels in
the service under the Government by reference to job
description, skills, responsibilities and other analogous
factors.
( b ) The classification referred to in paragraph ( a ) shall be
carried out by a board composed of a Chairperson
appointed by the Minister of Finance and two other
members, one appointed by the Minister responsible
centrally for personnel policies in the public service
and one appointed by the Authority. The classification
shall be subject to the final approval of the Minister of
Finance.
( c ) Such classification shall take place within three
months of any adjustment of salaries of employees in
Government service and, or, of employees of the
Authority.
( d ) No post shall be classified in a grade higher than that
of a Grade 3 in the service of the Government or such
other grade that the Minister of Finance may from time
to time by notice in the Gazette determine.
Cap. 93.
( e ) Without prejudice to article 113 of the Constitution, no
person may, following a classification as aforesaid, be
entitled to rights under the Pensions Ordinance less
favourable than those to which he would have been
entitled prior to such classification.
Appointment of 
temporary persons.
16. (1) The Authority may, in writing, appoint persons for a
specified duration to perform statistical work of any nature which
may necessitate access to data collected under the provisions of this
Act.
(2) The person so appointed in pursuance of this article shall
discharge any specific duties and function as may be assigned to
him under this article and by the Authority in his letter of
appointment.
Oath of secrecy. 17. Every person appointed as an officer of statistics shall,
before assuming such duties, subscribe to the oath contained in the
Second Schedule.
Certificate of 
appointment.
18. (1) Every officer of statistics who, under this Act, is
entitled -
( a ) to require the completion and return of any document
or the provision of any information orally or in writing
from any person or undertaking; or
( b ) to inspect, copy or take extracts from, collect or
receive any documents relating to any person or
undertaking; or
( c ) to enter any premises,
shall be provided with a certificate of appointment signed by,
stamped or printed with, the name of the Director General.
(2) An officer of statistics acting under this article shall on
demand produce his certificate of appointment for inspection.
MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY [ CAP. 422.  13
P A R T  IV 
F I N A N C I A L  P R O V I S I O N S
Authority to meet 
expenditure out of 
revenue.
19. (1) Without prejudice to the following provisions of this
article, the Authority shall so conduct its affairs that so much of the
expenditure required for the proper performance of its functions
shall, as far as practicable, be met out of its revenue.
(2) For such purpose the Authority shall levy all fees, rates and
other payments prescribed or deemed to be prescribed by or under
this Act or any other law related to the powers and functions of the
Authority.
(3) The Authority shall also be paid by the Government out of
the Consolidated Fund such sums as the House of Representatives,
hereinafter referred to as the “House”, may from time to time
authorise to be appropriated to meet any of its expenditure that
cannot be met out of its revenue and the costs of specified works to
be continued or otherwise carried out by the Authority, being works
of infrastructure or of a similar capital nature.
(4) Any excess of revenue over expenditure shall, subject to
such directives as the Minister, after consultation with the Minister
of Finance, may from time to time give, be applied by the Authority
to the formation of reserve funds to be used for the purposes of the
Authority; and without prejudice to the generality of the powers
given to the Minister by this subarticle, any direction given by the
Minister as aforesaid may order the transfer to the Government, or
the application in such manner as may be specified in the direction,
of any part of the fees, rates and other payments levied in
accordance with subarticle (2) or any such excess as aforesaid.
(5) Any funds of the Authority not immediately required to
meet expenditure may be invested in such manner as may from time
to time be approved by the Minister.
Power to borrow or 
raise capital.
20. (1) For the purpose of carrying out any of its functions
under this Act, the Authority may, with the approval in writing of
the Minister, given after consultation with the Minister of Finance,
borrow or raise money in such manner, from such person, body or
authority, and under such terms and conditions as the Minister,
after consultation as aforesaid, may in writing approve.
(2) The Authority may also, from time to time, borrow, by way
of overdraft or otherwise, such sums as it may require for carrying
out its functions under this Act:
Provided that for any amount in excess of fifty thousand
liri, there shall be required the written approval of the Minister.
Advances from the 
Government.
21. The Minister of Finance may, after consultation with the
Minister, make advances to the Authority of such sums as he may
agree to be required by the Authority for carrying out any of its
functions under this Act, and may make such advances on such
terms and conditions as he may, after consultation as aforesaid,
deem appropriate. Any such advance may be made by the Minister
of Finance out of the Consolidated Fund, and without further
appropriation other than this Act, by warrant under his hand
14 [ CAP. 422. MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY
authorising the Accountant General to make such advance.
Borrowing from 
the Government.
22. (1) The Minister of Finance may, for any requirements of
the Authority of a capital nature, contract or raise loans, or incur
liabilities, for such periods and on such terms and conditions as he
may deem appropriate; and any sums due in respect of or in
connection with any such loan or liability shall be a charge on the
Consolidated Fund.
(2) Notice of any loans, liabilities or advances made or
incurred under subarticle (1) shall be given to the House as soon as
practicable.
(3) Pending the raising of any such loan as is mentioned in
subarticle (1), or for the purpose of providing the Authority with
working capital, the Minister of Finance may, by warrant under his
hand, and without further appropriation other than this Act,
authorise the Accountant General to make advances to the
Authority out of the Treasury Clearance Fund under such terms as
may be specified by the Minister upon the making thereof.
(4) The proceeds of any loan raised for the purposes of making
advances to the Authority, and any other moneys to be advanced to
the Authority under this article, shall be paid into a fund specially
established for the purpose and which shall be known as the
“Statistics Authority Loan Fund”.
(5) Sums received by the Accountant General from the
Authority in respect of advances made to the Authority under
subarticle (3) shall be paid, in respect of amounts by way of
repayment, into the Treasury Clearance Fund, and, in respect of
amounts received by way of interest, into the Consolidated Fund.
Estimates of the 
Authority.
23. (1) The Authority shall cause to be prepared in every
financial year, and shall not later than six weeks after the end of
each such year adopt, estimates of the income and expenditure of
the Authority for the next following financial year: 
Provided that the estimates for the first financial year of
the Authority shall be prepared and adopted within such time as the
Minister may by notice in writing to the Authority specify.
(2) In the preparation of such estimates the Authority shall
take account of any funds and other monies that may be due to be
paid to it out of the Consolidated Fund during the relevant financial
year, whether by virtue of this Act or an appropriation Act or of any
other law; and the Authority shall so prepare the said estimates as
to ensure that the total revenues of the Authority are at least
sufficient to meet all sums properly chargeable to its revenue
account including, but without prejudice to the generality of that
expression, depreciation.
(3) The estimates shall be made out in such form and shall
contain such information and such comparison with previous
estimates as the Minister of Finance may direct.
(4) A copy of the estimates shall, upon their adoption by the
Authority, be sent forthwith by the Authority to the Minister and to
the Minister of Finance.
MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY [ CAP. 422.  15
(5) The Minister shall, at the earliest opportunity and not later
than six weeks after he has received a copy of the estimates from
the Authority, approve the same with or without amendment after
consultation with the Minister of Finance.
Expenditure to be 
according to 
approved 
estimates.
24. (1) No expenditure shall be made or incurred by the
Authority unless provision therefor has been made in the estimates
approved as provided in article 23.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subarticle (1) -
( a ) until the expiration of six months from the beginning
of a financial year, or until the approval of the
estimates for that year, whichever is the earlier date,
the Authority may make or incur expenditure for
carrying on its functions under this Act not exceeding
in the aggregate one-half of the amount approved for
the preceding financial year;
( b ) expenditure approved in respect of a head or sub-head
of the estimates may, with the approval of the Minister,
given after consultation with the Minister of Finance,
be made or incurred in respect of another head or sub-
head of the estimates;
( c ) in respect of the first financial year, the Authority may
make or incur expenditure not exceeding in the
aggregate such amounts as the Minister of Finance
may, after consultation with the Minister, allow;
( d ) if in respect of any financial year it is found that the
amount approved in the estimates is not sufficient or a
need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose not
provided for in the estimates, the Authority may adopt
supplementary estimates for approval by the Minister,
and in any such case the provisions of this Act
applicable to the estimates shall as near as practicable
apply to the supplementary estimates.
Publication of 
approved 
estimates.
25. The Minister shall, at the earliest opportunity and not later
than eight weeks after he has received a copy of the estimates and
supplementary estimates of the Authority, or if at any time during
that period the House is not in session, within eight weeks from the
beginning of the next following session, cause such estimates to be
laid on the Table of the House.
Accounts and 
audit.
26. (1) The Authority shall cause to be kept proper accounts
and other records in respect of its operations, and shall cause to be
prepared a statement of accounts in respect of each financial year.
(2) The accounts of the Authority shall be audited by an
auditor or auditors to be appointed by the Authority and approved
by the Minister:
Provided that the Minister of Finance may, after
consultation with the Minister, require the books and accounts of
the Authority to be audited or examined by the Auditor General
who shall for the purpose have the power to carry out such physical
checking and other certifications as he may deem necessary.
(3) After the end of each financial year, and not later than the
16 [ CAP. 422. MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY
date on which the estimates of the Authority are forwarded to the
Minister under article 23, the Authority shall cause a copy of the
statement of account duly audited to be transmitted to the Minister
and to the Minister of Finance together with a copy of any report
made by the auditors on that statement or on the accounts of the
Authority.
(4) The Minister shall, at the earliest opportunity and not later
than eight weeks after he has received a copy of every such
statement and report, or if at any time during that period the House
is not in session, within eight weeks from the beginning of the next
following session, cause every such statement and report to be laid
on the Table of the House.
Deposit of 
revenues and 
payments by the 
Authority.
27. (1) All monies accruing to the Authority shall be paid into
a bank or banks appointed as bankers of the Authority by a
resolution of the Authority. Such monies shall, as far as practicable,
be paid into any such banks from day to day, except such sum as the
Authority may authorise to be retained to meet petty disbursements
and immediate cash payments.
(2) All payments out of the funds of the Authority, other than
petty disbursements not exceeding a sum fixed by the Authority,
shall be made by such officer or officers of the Authority as the
Authority shall appoint or designate for that purpose.
(3) Cheques against and withdrawals from any bank account of
the Authority shall be signed by such officer of the Authority as
may be appointed or designated by the Authority for that purpose
and shall be countersigned by the Chairperson, or such other
member or officer of the Authority as may be authorised by the
Authority for that purpose.
(4) The Authority shall also make provision with respect to -
( a ) the manner in which and the officer or officers by
whom payments are to be authorised or approved;
( b ) the title of any account held with the bank or banks
into which the monies of the Authority are to be paid,
and the transfer of funds from one account to the other;
( c ) the method to be adopted in making payments out of
funds of the Authority, 
and generally with respect to any matter which is relevant to the
proper keeping and control of the accounts and books, and the
control of the finances, of the Authority.
Contracts of supply 
or works.
28. Without prejudice to any directions communicated by the
Minister under article 8(1), the Authority shall not, except with the
approval of the Minister granted for special reasons and after
consultation with the Minister of Finance, award or enter into any
contract for the supply of goods or materials or for the execution of
works, or for the rendering of services, to or for the benefit of the
Authority, which is estimated by the Authority to exceed three
thousand liri or such other amount as the Minister of Finance may
by regulations prescribe, except after notice of the intention of the
Authority to enter into the contract has been published and
competitive tenders have been issued. 
MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY [ CAP. 422.  17
Annual report.
of each financial year, make and transmit to the Minister and to the
Minister of Finance a report dealing generally with the activities of
the Authority during that financial year and containing such
information relating to the proceedings and policy of the Authority
as either of the said Ministers may from time to time require. The
Minister shall, at the earliest opportunity, and not later than eight
weeks after he has received a copy of every such report, or if at any
time during that period the House is not in session, within eight
weeks from the beginning of the next following session, cause a
copy of every such report to be laid on the Table of the House.
P A R T  V 
T R A N S F E R   O F  C E R T A I N  A S S E T S   T O   T H E  A U T H O R I T Y  
Transfer of assets 
to the Authority.
30. (1) ( a ) The property and undertakings owned by the
Government and used by it, immediately before the
date of the coming into force of this Part of this Act,
and used by it for the operation of any of the functions
which by this Act are being transferred to or vested in
the Authority shall, on the date aforesaid, by virtue of
this Act and without further assurance, be transferred
to and be vested in the Authority under the same title
by which they were held by the Government
immediately before the said date. The provisions of
this paragraph shall not apply to immovable property.
( b ) The immovable assets from time to time specified in
an order made by the President of Malta and published
in the Gazette (hereinafter referred to as “the
immovable assets”) being immovable assets which,
immediately before the coming into force of this Part
of this Act, where owned by the Government and used
by it for the operation of any of the functions which by
this Act are being transferred to or vested in the
Authority shall, with effect from such day as may be
specified in any such order, and by virtue of this Act
and without any further assurance, be transferred to
and vested in the Authority under the same title by
which they were held by the Government before such
day.
(2) The transfer and vesting aforesaid shall extend to the
whole of such property and undertakings and, without prejudice to
the generality of the aforesaid, shall include all plant, equipment,
apparata, instruments, vehicles, craft, buildings, structures,
installations, land, roads, works, stocks and other property,
movable or immovable, assets, powers, rights and privileges and all
things necessary or ancillary thereto which are held or enjoyed in
connection therewith or appertaining thereto, as well as all
obligations affecting or relating to any of the aforesaid property or
undertakings or other thing included therein as aforesaid.
Construction of 
laws, etc.
31. Subject to the provisions of this Act, all laws, rules,
regulations, orders, judgements, decrees, awards, deeds, bonds,
18 [ CAP. 422. MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY
contracts, agreements, instruments, documents, warrants and other
arrangements, subsisting immediately before the date of the coming
into force of this Part of this Act, affecting or relating to any of the
properties or undertakings transferred to the Authority by or under
this Act, shall have full force and effect against or in favour of the
Authority, and shall be enforceable freely and effectually, as if
instead of the Government or governmental authority the Authority
had been named therein or had been a party thereto, and otherwise
in substitution of the Government or governmental authority.
Transitory 
provisions.
32. (1) When anything has been commenced by or under the
authority of the Government prior to the date of the coming into
force of this Part of this Act, and such thing relates to any of the
properties or undertakings or any right or liability transferred to the
Authority by or under this Act, such thing may be carried on and
completed by or as authorised by the Authority.
(2) Where, immediately before the coming into force of this
Part of this Act, any legal proceedings are pending to which the
Government is or is entitled to be a party, and such proceedings are
related to any of the properties or undertakings, or any right or
liability transferred by or under this Act, the Authority shall, as
from the date aforesaid, be substituted in such proceedings for the
Government, or shall be made a party thereto in like manner as the
Government could have become, and such proceedings shall not
abate by reason of the substitution.
(3) The Minister may by order make such incidental,
consequential and supplemental provisions as he may deem
necessary or expedient for the purpose of determining, as
appropriate, the assets transferred to the Authority by this Act and
securing and giving full effect to the transfer of any property or
undertaking or any right or liability to the Authority by this Act and
make such orders as may be necessary to make any powers and
duties exercisable by the Government in relation to any of the
transferred property or undertakings exercisable by or on behalf of
the Authority.
P A R T  VI 
A D V I S O R Y  C O M M I T T E E S
Appointment and 
functions of 
advisory 
committees.
33. (1) The Minister may from time to time appoint advisory
committees in respect of such sector or sectors as he may
determine.
(2) An advisory committee shall, for the better carrying out of
the provisions of this Act, advise the Authority on such matters and
perform such other functions as the Minister may specify in the
instrument of appointment. 
(3) The members of the committee shall be appointed by the
Minister and shall hold office for such period and on such terms
and conditions as the Minister may deem appropriate. 
(4) Each committee shall consist of one member representing
the Authority as Chairperson and such other members as the
Minister may deem fit to appoint. 
MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY [ CAP. 422.  19
(5) The provisions of articles 5(5)( a ) and ( b ) and 5(6) shall,
mutatis mutandis ,   apply to the members of the advisory
committees. 
(6) Each advisory committee shall keep minutes of all
meetings and shall forward copies of such minutes to the Authority. 
Provisions with 
respect to 
proceedings of 
advisory 
committees.
34. (1) The meetings of advisory committees shall be called
by the Chairperson as often as may be necessary but at least once a
month either on his own initiative or at the request of any two of
the other members.
(2) Half the number of members for the time being
constituting an advisory committee shall form a quorum. Decisions
shall be adopted by a simple majority of the votes of the members
present and voting. The Chairperson or, in his absence, the Deputy
Chairperson or other person appointed to act as chairperson, shall
have an initial vote and, in the event of an equality of votes, a
casting vote. Without prejudice to the other requirements of this
Act, no decision shall be valid which is not supported by at least
two members of the advisory committee.
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, an advisory
committee may regulate its own procedure. 
(4) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this article, no act or
proceeding of an advisory committee shall be invalidated merely by
reason of the existence of any vacancy among the members. 
(5)  Any member of an advisory committee who has any direct
or indirect interest in any contract made or proposed to be made by
the Authority, not being an interest which disqualifies such member
from remaining a member, shall,  not later than the first meeting
held after the relevant circumstances have come to his knowledge,
disclose the nature of his interest, and the member having an
interest as aforesaid shall withdraw from any meetings at which
such contract is discussed. Any such disclosure shall be
communicated to the Minister without delay. Where the interest of
the member is such as to disqualify him from remaining a member,
he shall report the fact immediately to the Minister and tender his
resignation. 
(6) All acts done by any person acting in good faith, as a
member of an advisory committee shall be valid as if he were a
member notwithstanding that some defect in his appointment or
qualification be afterwards discovered. No act or proceeding of an
advisory committee shall be questioned on the ground of the
contravention, by a member, of the provisions of subarticle (5).
P A R T  VII
C O L L E C T I O N   O F   I N F O R M A T I O N   A N D   A C C E S S   T O   R E C O R D S .
Collection of 
information.
35. The Director General may prepare forms, questionnaires
and other records for the collection of information under this Act
and the instructions necessary for their proper completion, and
shall specify the date or period within which these completed
forms, questionnaires and other records or the required information
20 [ CAP. 422. MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY
shall be returned to the Authority.
Provision of 
information.
36. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law
enjoining secrecy, the Director General or an officer of statistics
may, for the purposes of obtaining statistical information relating to
any matter specified in the First Schedule, require any person or
undertaking to -
( a ) complete a form, questionnaire or other record;
( b ) answer any questions; and
( c ) provide any information or records,
and any information so obtained shall be subject to the
restrictions on use and prohibition on disclosure of information
specified in articles 40 and 41.
(2) In prescribing a requirement on persons and undertakings
to provide information under subarticle (1), the Director General
shall specify in particular -
( a ) the general nature of the information required;
( b ) the frequency with which it is to be provided; and
( c ) the persons or undertakings, or classes of persons or
undertakings, required to provide it.
(3) In the case of the holding of any census of population and
housing, the relevant order shall be prescribed by the Prime
Minister, acting on the advice of the Authority. 
Requests for 
information.
37. (1) For the purposes of article 36, a request to provide
information shall be sufficient -
( a ) in the case of an individual person, if a notice
addressed to that person is delivered to his last known
place of residence, employment or business;
( b ) in the case of an undertaking, if a notice is delivered to
the premises from which it operates or conducts its
affairs using its trading name, or to any individual
person involved in its management, including a
receiver or liquidator or administrator, at his place of
business or residence.
(2) Where the information which a person or undertaking
claims to have provided in compliance with a request by the
Director General is not in possession of the Office, the Director
General may by delivery of a further notice direct that person or
undertaking to provide that information.
Access to records. 38. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law
enjoining secrecy, any person or undertaking who holds records
from which, in the opinion of the Director General, information
relating to matters specified in the First Schedule can be obtained,
shall grant to the Director General or an officer of statistics access
to such records for obtaining the said information.
MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY [ CAP. 422.  21
P A R T  VIII 
U S E   O F  R E C O R D S   O F  P U B L I C  A U T H O R I T I E S   A N D  
P R O T E C T I O N   O F  C O L L E C T E D  I N F O R M A T I O N  
Access to records.
( a ) on delivery of a notice, request any public authority to
allow officers of statistics at all reasonable times to
access, to inspect and to take copies of or extracts from
any records in its charge; and
( b ) request any public authority to consult and cooperate
with him for the purpose of assessing the potential of
the records of the authority as a source of statistical
information and, where appropriate and practicable,
developing its recording methods and systems for
statistical purposes, and the public authority shall
comply with any such request, in so far as resources
permit.
(2) If any public authority intends to carry out activities with
statistical implications, it shall consult, for coordination, with the
Office and accept any recommendations the Office may make.
Restrictions on use 
of information.
40. All information furnished by any person, undertaking or
public authority under this Act shall be used only for the purpose of
statistical compilation and analysis.
Prohibition of 
disclosure of 
information.
41. (1) No information obtained in any way under this Act
which can be related to an identifiable person or undertaking shall,
except with the written consent of that person or undertaking or the
personal representative or next-of-kin of that person, if he be
deceased, be disseminated, shown or communicated to any person
or body except -
( a ) for the purposes of a prosecution for an offence under
this Act, or
( b ) to officers of statistics in the course of their duties
under this Act. 
(2) The Minister may, with the concurrence of the Authority,
by regulations, from time to time, prescribe such further
prohibition on the disclosure of identifiable records or information
obtained under this Act, as he may deem appropriate.
Power to make 
regulations.
42. (1) The Minister may, after consultation with the
Authority, by order add to, vary, or amend the First Schedule.
(2) The Minister may, after consultation with the Authority,
make regulations in respect of any of the functions of the Authority,
for the establishment of directorates which may be required to be
established under this Act, and for the better carrying out of any of
the provisions of this Act.
22 [ CAP. 422. MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY
P A R T  IX
O F F E N C E S   A N D  P E N A L T I E S
Administrative 
penalties.
43. (1) The Authority may impose administrative
penaltiesamounting to - 
( a ) fifty liri on any person for failure to respect the
deadline for the provision of information laid down
pursuant to article 36; and
( b ) one hundred liri on any person who fails, refuses to
provide, or provides incorrect information, on any
requested information in response to a request from
the Director General under the provisions of article 36
or 39. 
(2) ( a ) Any person who, being required to furnish a
questionnaire for a particular period, does not furnish
that questionnaire within the time laid down in the
relevant questionnaire shall be liable to an
administrative penalty of fifty liri, for every month or
part thereof that elapses from the date by which the
questionnaire should have been furnished.
( b ) Any person who receives a questionnaire, but is no
longer subject to answering that questionnaire, shall so
inform the Office. Failure to inform the Office as
aforesaid will render such person liable to an
administrative penalty of fifty liri, for every month or
part thereof that elapses from the date by which the
questionnaire should have been furnished.
(3) Any administrative penalty to which a person becomes
liable in terms of this Act shall be due and payable by that person,
and that person shall not be relieved from a higher or from a further
penalty to which he may have become or may become liable in
terms of the relevant provisions of this Act.
(4) A penalty under subarticle (1) shall again become due
when a new deadline is set by the Office for compliance. Penalties
under subarticle (2) shall accrue until the information required is
provided.
(5) In special cases, where there are very compelling reasons
to do so, the Authority may waive compulsory penalties wholly or
in part.
Cap. 12.
(6) Administrative penalties shall be due to the Authority as a
civil debt, and the provisions of article 466 of the Code of
Organization and Civil Procedure, shall,  mutatis mutandis , apply
thereto.
Offences. 44. Without prejudice to any other liability under any other
law, any person who -
( a ) wilfully prevents or obstructs the Director General or
any other officer of statistics from carrying out his
duties under the provisions of this Act; or 
( b ) misuses information provided under this Act or
MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY [ CAP. 422.  23
wilfully discloses information relating to any
identifiable person or undertaking; or
( c ) not being an officer of statistics, represents himself as
being an officer of statistics; or
( d ) wilfully destroys, damages or falsifies any document
or record issued for the collection of statistics in
compliance with a requirement made under article 35, 
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to a
fine ( multa ) of not less than one thousand liri, or to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and
imprisonment.
Unlawful exercise 
of public function.
45. Without prejudice to any other liability under any other
law, any officer of statistics who -
( a ) acts in contravention of the oath referred to in article
17; or 
( b ) in the pretended performance of his functions as such
officer, obtains or attempts to obtain, from a person or
undertaking, any information which he is not lawfully
entitled to obtain from that person or undertaking; or
( c ) wilfully fails to return to the Office a document or
record collected from a person or undertaking under
this Act, or fails to keep any document or record
containing information, collected under this Act, in his
custody in such manner as to ensure that unauthorised
persons will not have access thereto,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a
fine ( multa ) not exceeding one thousand liri or to imprisonment for
a term not exceeding one year, or to both such fine and
imprisonment.
P A R T  X
S A V I N G
Saving.
Cap. 142.
46. (1) Any subsidiary legislation made under the Statistics
Act, repealed by this Act, shall, until other provision is made under
or by virtue of this Act, continue in force and have effect as if made
under this Act.
(2) Any authority or order granted or made under any of the
provisions of the repealed Act, and still in force immediately before
the coming into force of this Act, shall continue in force thereafter
as if it were an authority or order granted or made under a
corresponding provision of this Act, and any such authority or
order as aforesaid shall be treated and dealt with accordingly.
(3) All data collected under the repealed Act shall be
construed as data collected under the corresponding provisions of
this Act, and shall be subject to the restrictions on use and
prohibition on disclosure of information specified in articles 40 and
41. 
24 [ CAP. 422. MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY
FIRST SCHEDULE
(Articles 10(1), 36(1), 38, and 42(1)) 
Matters in respect of which statistics may be collected,
prepared and published
( a ) Population and housing.
( b ) Immigration and emigration, internal and external
passenger movement and tourism.
( c ) Vital occurrences, morbidity, health and nutrition.
( d ) Social matters including education, sports, public
entertainment, social security and welfare, criminal and
judicial matters, juvenile delinquency, public information,
public administration and government.
( e ) Land tenure, occupation and condition of land and the
produce thereof, occupation and condition of buildings,
rent payable or receivable in respect of land and buildings
and the annual value of land and buildings.
( f ) Environmental and related statistics.
( g ) Primary and secondary production, including
construction, building, personal and other services, power,
machinery, transport equipment, water and electricity.
( h ) Industry and merchandising.
( i ) Stocks of manufactured and unmanufactured goods.
( j ) Livestock.
( k ) Imports and exports.
( l ) Trade and commerce.
( m ) Transport and communication in all forms by land, water
and air, including post, telephones, telegraph, radio and
electronic transmission, and includes e-commerce and the
use of the internet.
( n ) Occupations, employment, unemployment and payrolls.
( o ) Salaries, wages, hours and conditions of work.
( p ) Industrial disturbances and disputes.
( q ) Injuries, accidents and compensation.
MALTA STATISTICS AUTHORITY [ CAP. 422.  25
( r ) Wholesale and retail prices and cost of living.
( s ) Banking and finance, including external balance of
payments.
( t ) Associations, including voluntary associations, societies
or corporations for profit or otherwise.
( u ) Marine, fire, life, accident and other insurance.
( v ) Incomes, earnings, profits, interests, fees and other
payments for services rendered.
( w ) National income, output and expenditure and capital
formation.
( x ) Broadcasting and audiovisual works.
( y ) Any other matter so determined by the Director General,
except for opinion poll, after consultation with the
Authority, and as established by a Legal Notice.
SECOND SCHEDULE
(A R T I C L E  17)
Form of Oath
I, ............................ swear/solemnly affirm that I will fully and
honestly fulfil my duties as an officer of statistics in conformity with
the requirements of the Malta Statistics Authority Act, 2000, and of
all orders made thereunder, and that I will not, except in the
performance of my duties under that Act and such orders, disclose or
make known during my service as an officer of statistics or at any
time thereafter, any matter which comes to my knowledge relating to
any person, household or undertaking by reason of my service as an
officer of statistics. (So help me God.)
