I believe it has been very useful. Chief statisticians have often come to us saying, “There is an issue we are examining and we would like your feedback on it.”
It also, in fact, tends to make us go back to our constituent groups and consult in the area and find out, so we find over several meetings that we'll get ongoing discussion with additional information about areas.
We also tend not to hold votes. It is an opportunity for the chief statistician to see an array of discussion that allows him direct access to those external views.