Proposal for a Council Regulation implementing Regulation No 1177/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 June 2003 concerning Community Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) as regards the 2009 list of target secondary variables on material deprivation
Date: 2008-01-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU statistics, data collection, income, living conditions, marginalisation, poverty, statistical method

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 28.1.2008 
COM(2008) 22 final 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

implementing Regulation No 1177/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
of 16 June 2003 concerning Community Statistics on Income and Living Conditions 
(EU-SILC) as regards the 2009 list of target secondary variables on material deprivation 

(presented by the Commission) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

Regulation N° 1177/2003 of the European Parliament and of Council was adopted on 
16 June 2003 and published in the Official Journal on 3 July 2003. It was amended 
on 7 September 2005 by regulation N° 1553/2005 of the European Parliament and of 
the  Council  to  extend  to  Member  States  that  enter  the  European  Union  on  1  May 
2004 and to give them additional time to adapt their systems to harmonised methods 
and definitions used to compile Community Statistics.  

The aim of the EU-SILC Regulations are to establish a common framework for the 
systematic  production  of  Community  Statistics  on  Income  and  Living  Conditions, 
encompassing  comparable  and  timely  cross-sectional  and  longitudinal  data  on 
income and on the level and composition of poverty and social exclusion at national 
and European levels. 

In accordance with Article 6 of the EP and Council Regulation on EU-SILC, target 
secondary areas (modules) shall be included in the system every year starting from 
2005 to complement the target primary variables (annual variables). 

The  modules  for  2005,  2006,  2007  and  2008  are  respectively  relating  to  the 
intergenerational  transmission  of  poverty,  to  social  participation,  to  the  housing 
conditions and to over-indebtedness and financial exclusion. The corresponding list 
of  variables  are  given  in  Commission  regulations  N°  16/2004,  13/2005,  315/2006 
and 215/2007. 

The  theme  of  2009  module  is  ‘material  deprivation’.  The  list  of  variables  to  be 
included in this module has been developed by a Joint Eurostat / ISG (Indicators sub-
group of the Social Protection Committee) Task Force with methodological expertise 
from the Dublin and Bristol Universities. 

The ultimate objective of the module is not only to cover in one shot a specific area 
related to social inclusion but to run methodological studies to be in a position from 
2011/2012 to improve the deprivation component of the core (annual) SILC survey. 

The development of this module is a direct follow-up of the Helsinki Conference on 
the EU-SILC project (held in Helsinki on 6-8 November 2006) which recognised the 
need to extend the deprivation component of EU-SILC. 

This module also takes place in the context of the work of the Indicators Sub-Group 
of the Social Protection Committee (ISG) on material deprivation where the need to 
develop tools to monitor the multi-dimensional nature and the non-income dimension 
of poverty and social exclusion has been consistently highlighted by Member States 
and  the  Commission  in  the  context  of  the  Open  Method  of  Coordination  on  social 
inclusion. 

The draft Commission Regulation has received a strong  support from the Directors 
of  Social  Statistics  of  the  Member  States  in  their  meeting  of  17  and  18  September 
2007  as  all  countries  except  Denmark  expressed  a  positive  opinion  on  the  draft 
regulation. 

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10. 

11. 

The Statistical Programme Committee (SPC) voted on the proposed regulation on 8 
November 2007 under the Regulatory procedure. A number of delegations expressed 
reservation as they thought that the length of the questionnaire and the burden it put 
on  respondents  would  have  a  negative  impact  on  the  quality  of  results.  Concerns 
were  also  expressed  in  view  of  the  subjective  variables,  mainly  the  'unmet  needs' 
information. 

The  SPC  did  not  support  the  proposal.  Germany,  Denmark,  Sweden,  the  United 
Kingdom  and  the  Netherlands  voted  against  (total  of  88  votes).  Romania,  Italy, 
Greece,  Belgium,  Finland  and  Poland  abstained  (total  of  84  votes).  All  the  other 
Member  States  were  in  favour  of  the  draft  (total  of  173  votes).  The  EFTA/EEA 
countries abstained. Switzerland abstained. 

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Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

implementing Regulation No 1177/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
of 16 June 2003 concerning Community Statistics on Income and Living Conditions 
(EU-SILC) as regards the 2009 list of target secondary variables on material deprivation 

(Text with EEA relevance) 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 

Having  regard  to  Regulation  (EC)  No  1177/2003  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the 
Council  of  16  June  2003  concerning  Community  statistics  on  income  and  living  conditions 
(EU-SILC)1, and in particular Article 15(2)(f) thereof, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

Regulation  (EC)  No  1177/2003  established  a  common  framework  for  the  systematic 
production  of  Community  statistics  on  income  and  living  conditions,  encompassing 
comparable  and  timely  cross-sectional  and  longitudinal  data  on  income,  and  on  the 
level and composition of poverty and social exclusion at national and European Union 
levels. 

Under Article 15(2)(f) of Regulation (EC) No 1177/2003, implementing measures are 
necessary for the list of target secondary areas and variables to be included each year 
in  the  cross-sectional  component  of  EU-SILC.  For  the  year  2009,  the  list  of  target 
secondary  variables  included  in  the  module  on  material  deprivation  should  be  laid 
down. This should be accompanied by the provision of variable codes and definitions. 

The measures provided for in this Regulation are not in accordance with the opinion of 
the Statistical Programme Committee. In this case, following the procedure laid down 
in  Article  14(2)  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  1177/2003,  the  Commission  shall  without 
delay, submit to the Council a proposal relating to the measures to be taken and shall 
inform the European Parliament. 

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

The  list  of  target  secondary  variables,  the  variable  codes,  and  the  definitions  for  the  2009 
module  on  material  deprivation  to  be  included  in  the  cross-sectional  component  of 

Article 1 

1 

OJ  L  165  3.7.2003,  p.1  Regulation  as  amended  by  Regulations  (EC)  No  1553/2005  (OJ  L  225, 
30.9.2005, p. 6) and (EC) No 1791/2006 (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p.1). 

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Community statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC) shall be as laid down in the 
Annex. 

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in 
the Official Journal of the European Union. 

Article 2 

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 

Done at Brussels,  

For the Council 
The President 

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ANNEX  

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following units, modes of data collection, reference 
periods and definitions shall apply. 

1. 

Units 

The target variables relate to three different types of units. 

The  variables  relating  to  housing,  the  environment,  financial  stress  and  durables 
(except  possession  of  mobile  phones)  are  asked  at  household  level  and  refer  to  the 
household as a whole. 

Information on the possession of a mobile phone, basic needs, unmet needs as well 
as leisure and social activities must be provided for each current household member, 
or, if applicable, for all selected respondents, aged 16 and over. 

Children's items relate to all household members aged under 18. The questions must 
be answered by the household respondent either for the group of children aged under 
18  or  for  the  group  of  children  aged  under  16  if  the  same  item  has  been  asked 
through the individual questionnaire for children aged 16 or 17. If at least one child 
does not have the item in question, the whole group of children in the household are 
assumed not to have the item. 

2. 

Modes of data collection 

For variables asked at household level (section 1 in the list below), the mode of data 
collection is personal interview with the household respondent. 

For variables asked at individual level (section 2 in the list below), the mode of data 
collection  is  personal  interview  with  all  current  household  members  aged  16  and 
over or, if applicable, with each selected respondent. 

For  children's  variables  (section  3  in  the  list  below),  the  mode  of  collection  is 
personal interview with the household respondent. 

Owing  to  the  characteristics  of  the  information  to  be  collected,  only  personal 
interviews  (proxy  interviews  as  an  exception  for  persons  temporarily  absent  or 
incapacitated) are allowed. 

3. 

Reference periods 

All target variables relate to the current situation as the reference period, except for 
the  two  variables  on  the  expectation  of  the  household  to  change  dwelling,  which 
refers to  the next six months, and  the variables on unmet needs, which  refer to  the 
past twelve months. 

4. 

Definitions 

(1) 

Housing items 

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(a) 

Shortage of space: the variable refers to the respondent’s opinion / perception 
about shortage of space in the dwelling. 

(2) 

Environmental items 

(a) 

Accessibility: this relates to the services used by the household with regard to 
financial,  physical,  technical  and  health  conditions.  The  accessibility  of 
services  is  to  be  assessed  in  terms  of  physical  and  technical  access,  and 
opening hours, but not in terms of quality, price and similar aspects.  

(b) 

Public transport: bus, metro, tram and similar. 

(c) 

Postal or banking services: withdraw cash, transfer money and pay bills. 

(d) 

Postal services: send and receive ordinary and parcel post. 

(3) 

Durables 

(a) 

The possession of durables relates to the access of the specific good or service 
for the private use of the household. It can be rented or shared. If the good is 
shared access to it should be easy and appropriate to household needs. 

5. 

Transmission of data to EUROSTAT 

The target secondary variables on ‘material deprivation' should be sent to EUROSTAT in the 
household data file (H) and in the personal data file (P) after the target primary variables. 

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AREAS AND LIST OF TARGET VARIABLES 

Module 2009 

Material deprivation 

Variable name 

Code 

HD010 

HD010_F 

HD020 

HD020_F 

HD025 

HD025_F 

HD030 

HD030_F 

HD035 

HD035_F 

HD040 

HD040_F 

HD050 

HD050_F 

1 
2 
1 
-1 

1 
2 
1 
-1 

1 

2 

3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
1 
-1 

0-999 
1 
-1 

1 
2 
3 
4 
1 
-1 

1 
2 
3 
4 
1 
-1 

Target variable 
1. Household items asked at household level 
1.1. Housing at household level 
Place to live with hot running water 
Yes 
No 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Expectation of household to change dwelling 
Yes 
No 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Main reason for the expectation to change dwelling  
Household will be forced  to leave, since notice has  been/will be  given 
by the landlord on termination of the contract 
Household will be forced  to leave, since notice has  been/will be  given 
by the landlord in the absence of a formal contract 
Household will be forced to leave because of eviction or distraint 
Household will be forced to leave due to financial difficulties 
Household will leave because of family-related reason 
Household will leave because of employment-related reason 
Household will leave because of other reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (HD020=2) 
Shortage of space in dwelling 
Yes 
No 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
OPTIONAL: Housing at household level 
Size of dwelling in square metres 
Square metres 
Variable is filled 
Missing 

1.2. Environment at household level 

Litter lying about 
Very frequently 
Frequently 
Sometimes 
Rarely or never 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Damaged public amenities (bus stops, lamp posts, pavements, etc.) 
Very frequently 
Frequently 
Sometimes 
Rarely or never 
Variable is filled 
Missing 

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Module 2009 

Material deprivation 

Variable name 
HD060 

Code 

HD060_F 

HD070 

HD070_F 

HD080 

HD080_F 

HD090 

HD090_F 

HD100 

HD100_F 

PD010 

PD010_F 

PD020 

PD020_F 

1 
2 
3 
4 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
3 
4 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-3 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-3 

Target variable 

Accessibility of public transport 
With great difficulty 
With some difficulty 
Easily 
Very easily 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (public transport not used by household) 
Accessibility of postal or banking services 
With great difficulty 
With some difficulty 
Easily 
Very easily 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (services not used by household) 
1.3. Financial stress at household level 
Replacing worn out furniture 
Yes 
No, because the household cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 

1.4. Durables at household level 

Internet connection 
Yes 
No, because the household cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
DVD player 
Yes 
No, because the household cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 

2. Items asked at individual level 
2.1. Durables at individual level 

Mobile phone 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not selected respondent 

2.2. Basic needs at individual level 

Replace worn out clothes by new (not second-hand) ones 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not selected respondent 

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Module 2009 

Material deprivation 

Variable name 
PD030 

Code 

Target variable 
Two pairs of properly-fitting shoes (including a pair of all-weather 
shoes) 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not selected respondent 

2.3. Unmet needs at individual level 

Unmet need for buying medicine/medical equipment 
Yes, there was at least one occasion 
No, there was no occasion 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not selected respondent 
Main  reason  for  unmet  need  for  buying  medicine/medical 
equipment 
Could not afford to (too expensive) 
Medicine/medical equipment was not available 
Could not take the time because of work, care for children or for other 
persons 
Too far to travel/no means of transport 
Fear of medicine/medical treatment 
Wanted to wait and see if problem got better on its own 
Did not know where to buy it 
Other reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (PD040=2) 
Not selected respondent 

2.4. Leisure and social activities at individual level 

Get together with friends/family for a drink/meal at least once a month 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not selected respondent 
Regularly  participate  in  a  leisure  activity  such  as  sport,  cinema, 
concert 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not selected respondent 
Spend a small amount of money each week on yourself  
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 

PD030_F 

PD040 

PD040_F 

PD045 

PD045_F 

PD050 

PD050_F 

PD060 

PD060_F 

PD070 

PD070_F 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-3 

1 
2 
1 
-1 
-3 

1 
2 

3 

4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
1 
-1 
-2 
-3 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-3 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-3 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 

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Module 2009 

Material deprivation 

Variable name 

Code 
-3 

Not selected respondent 

Target variable 

HD110 

HD110_F 

HD120 

HD120_F 

HD130 

HD130_F 

HD140 

HD140_F 

HD150 

HD150_F 

HD160 

HD160_F 

HD170 

HD170_F 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-2 

3. Children's items asked at household level 
3.1. Basic needs for all household children 
New (not second-hand) clothes 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
Two pairs of properly-fitting shoes (including a pair of all-weather shoes) 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
Fresh fruit and vegetables once a day 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
Three meals a day 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
One meal with meat, chicken or fish (or vegetarian equivalent) per day 
Yes 
1 
No, because cannot afford it 
2 
No, because of another reason 
3 
Variable is filled 
1 
Missing 
-1 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
-2 
3.2. Educational or leisure needs for all household children 
Go on holiday at least 1 week per year 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
Books at home suitable for their age 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 

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Module 2009 

Material deprivation 

Variable name 

Code 
-2 

HD180 

HD180_F 

HD190 

HD190_F 

HD200 

HD200_F 

HD210 

HD210_F 

HD220 

HD220_F 

HD230 

HD230_F 

HD240 

HD240_F 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
3 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
1 
-1 

Target variable 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
Outdoor leisure equipment (bicycle, roller skates, etc.) 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
Indoor games (educational baby toys, building blocks, board games, 
computer games, etc.) 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
Regular  leisure  activity  (swimming,  playing  an  instrument,  youth 
organisations, etc.) 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
Celebrations  on  special  occasions  (birthdays,  name  days,  religious 
events, etc.) 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
Invite friends round to play and eat from time to time 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
Participate in school trips and school events that cost money 
Yes 
No, because cannot afford it 
No, because of another reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18 in school) 
Suitable place to study or do homework 
Yes 
No 
Variable is filled 
Missing 

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Module 2009 

Material deprivation 

Variable name 

Code 
-2 

HD250 

HD250_F 

HD260 

HD260_F 

HD265 

HD265_F 

HD270 

HD270_F 

HD275 

HD275_F 

HD280 

HD280_F 

HD285 

1 
2 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 

3 

4 
5 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 

3 

4 
5 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
1 
-1 
-2 

1 
2 
3 

Target variable 

Not applicable (no children aged under 18 in school) 
Outdoor space in the neighbourhood where children can play safely 
Yes 
No 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
3.3. Medical needs for all household children 

Unmet need for consulting a doctor or specialist 
Yes, there was at least one occasion 
No, there was no occasion 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
Main reason for unmet need for consulting a doctor or specialist 
Could not afford to (too expensive) 
Waiting list 
Could not take the time because of work, care for other children or for 
other persons 
Too far to travel/no means of transport 
Other reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (HD260=2) 
Unmet need for consulting a dentist 
Yes, there was at least one occasion 
No, there was no occasion 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
Main reason for unmet need for consulting a dentist 
Could not afford to (too expensive) 
Waiting list 
Could not take the time because of work, care for other children or for 
other persons 
Too far to travel/no means of transport 
Other reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (HD270=2) 
Unmet need for buying medicine/medical equipment 
Yes, there was at least one occasion 
No, there was no occasion 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (no children aged under 18) 
Main  reason  for  unmet  need  for  buying  medicine/medical 
equipment 
Could not afford to (too expensive) 
Waiting list 
Too far to travel/no means of transport 

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Module 2009 

Material deprivation 

Variable name 

HD285_F 

Code 
4 
1 
-1 
-2 

Other reason 
Variable is filled 
Missing 
Not applicable (HD280=2) 

Target variable 

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