The paper consists of five chapters. In chapter 1 a conceptual foundation is proposed, introducing the concepts of statistical metadata, statistical data, and statistical information systems. Chapter 2 discusses which subjects (users and producers of statistical data) and objects (software tools) have needs for statistical metadata, and for which purposes. In chapter 3 the contents of these metadata needs are analysed more systematically, and in more detail; particular emphasis is given to the metadata needs of users of statistical data. Chapter 4 investigates possible sources for the statistical metadata needed. Finally, chapter 5 discusses how the metadata infrastructure of a statistical service could best be organised.