The Central Office of Statistics (COS) is another Government department which, as from the 13 May 1999, has adopted a Quality Service Charter.

Apart from outlining the services provided by the COS and their means of delivery, the Quality Service Charter gives an overview of the type and level of service which clients can expect from the COS. On their part the staff at the COS are committing themselves to making their customers the focus of their attention by striving to continually assess, understand and cater for their needs.

The COS customer base is varied. Locally, it includes Parliament, Government Ministries and Departments, the trade unions, businesses and their constituted bodies, researchers, academics, students and the general public. Apart from foreign individuals, business and non-business institutions and academic and research institutions, the foreign COS client base is also inclusive of international institutions like the United Nations and its component branches, the International Monetary Fund and Eurostat - the statistical office of the European Union.

Data suppliers are also a special group of clients towards which the COS is making a commitment of minimising their burden in providing data for statistical service.

In addition to the above, and in order to facilitate access to statistical information, the COS is also launching its Data Shop. This facility, within the COS, offers a Library and Information service, provides a one-stop-shop statistical service to COS clients and is complementary to and supportive of the services that are already being provided by the different statistical units within the COS. The services of this Data Shop can be availed of either by calling personally or else by contacting the shop by post or on the following numbers:

Telephone: (00356) 223221-5

Fax: (00356) 249841

E-mail: cos@magnet.mt