Council Regulation (EC) No 362/2008 of 14 April 2008 implementing Regulation (EC) No 1177/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council 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)
Date: 2008-04-14
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU statistics, data collection, income, living conditions, marginalisation, poverty, statistical method

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(Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory)

I

REGULATIONS

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 362/2008

of 14 April 2008

implementing Regulation (EC) No 1177/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council
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,

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.

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1177/2003 of
European Parliament and of
concerning Community
conditions
thereof,

the
the Council of 16 June 2003
and living
statistics on income
(EU-SILC) (1), and in particular Article 15(2)(f)

(3)

laid

The Statistical Programme Committee has not delivered a
the
favourable opinion. This being
so,
Article
procedure
of
Regulation (EC) No 1177/2003,
the Commission is,
to the Council a proposal
without delay,
relating to the measures to be taken and shall
inform
the European Parliament,

following
14(2)

to submit

down

in

Whereas:

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

(1)

for

the

systematic

Regulation (EC) No 1177/2003 established a common
framework
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.

production

Article 1

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

(2)

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

(1) OJ L 165, 3.7.2003, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Council
Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 1).

Article 2

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

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

Done at Luxembourg, 14 April 2008.

For the Council
The President

I. JARC

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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 unit.

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 in
the category ‘adult items’ 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 16 to be compatible with the data collection defined in
the Regulation (EC) No 1177/2003.

The questions must be answered by the household respondent for the whole group of children aged under 16. If at
least one child does not have the item in question, the whole group of children in the household is 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
exception for persons temporarily absent or incapacitated) are allowed.

interviews (proxy interviews as an

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 and on the visit to general practitioners and specialists, which refer to the past 12 months.

4. DEFINITIONS

(1) Housing items

(a) Change of dwelling:

— the reference period is ‘the next six months’. If the household expects to change dwelling for several

reasons during the reference period, the main reason should be given,

— eviction/distraint: forced to move for legal reasons,

— financial difficulties: problems paying rent/mortgage,

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— family-related reasons: change in marital/partnership status, to establish own household, to follow part-

ner/parents, to obtain better school or care facilities for children or other dependants,

— employment-related reasons: start new job or transfer of existing job, looking for work or made redundant,

to be closer to work/easier to commute, retirement,

— other reasons: housing-related reasons (desire to change accommodation or tenure status, wanting new or
better house/apartment, seeking better neighbourhood/less crime), studies-related reasons (attending or
leaving college/university), health and other reasons;

(b) 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. 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. Consequently, the access should refer to
an objective and physical reality. It should not be based on a subjective feeling.

Access should be determined in relation to the services actually used by the household. Physical access has to
be assessed in terms of distance but also of infrastructure and equipment for example for respondents with a
physical disability.

The services provided at home should also be taken into account, if they are actually used by the household.
Accessibility has thus to be evaluated regardless of the way(s) the household access to the service.

The respondent should give an answer for the household as a whole. If the respondent does not use a service
but other household member(s) do, he or she should assess the accessibility according to this(these) other
household member(s);

(b) Public transport: bus, metro, tram and similar;

(c) Postal or banking services: send and receive ordinary and parcel post, withdraw cash, transfer money and pay
bills. Technical access could also intervene. Accessibility in terms of phone-banking and PC-banking should
also be part of the assessment,
if these ways are actually used by the household. Accessibility has to be
evaluated according to the ease/difficulty to transfer and withdraw money, whether this is done by phone-
banking and PC-banking or in a bank or post office.

(3) Durables

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

(4) Basic needs

(a) Shoes: this concept has to be understood in a broad sense. It could include boots, sandals, etc. according to the

climatic conditions of the concerned country.

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

Variable name

Code

Material deprivation

Target variable

1. Household item questions asked at household level

1.1. Housing at household level

HD010

Place to live with hot running water

HD010_F

HD020

HD020_F

HD025

HD025_F

HD030

HD030_F

HD035

HD035_F

HD040

1

2

1

-1

1

2

1

-1

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1

-1

-2

1

2

1

-1

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 for financial difficulties

Household will leave for a family-related reason

Household will leave for an employment-related reason

Household will leave for some 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

0-999

Square metres

1

-1

1

2

3

4

Variable is filled

Missing

1.2. Environment at household level

Litter lying around in the neighbourhood

Very frequently

Frequently

Sometimes

Rarely or never

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Module 2009

Variable name

Code

Material deprivation

Target variable

HD040_F

HD050

HD050_F

1

-1

1

2

3

4

1

Variable is filled

Missing

Damaged public amenities (bus stops, lamp posts, pavements, etc.) in the neigh-
bourhood

Very frequently

Frequently

Sometimes

Rarely or never

Variable is filled

-1

Missing

HD060

Accessibility of public transport

1

2

3

4

1

-1

-2

1

2

3

4

1

-1

-2

1

2

3

1

-1

1

2

3

1

-1

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, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

1.4. Durables at household level

Internet connection

Yes

No, because the household cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

HD060_F

HD070

HD070_F

HD080

HD080_F

HD090

HD090_F

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Module 2009

Variable name

Code

Material deprivation

Target variable

2. Item questions asked at individual level

2.1. Durables at individual level

PD010

PD010_F

PD020

PD020_F

PD030

PD030_F

PD040

PD040_F

PD050

Mobile phone

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not selected respondent

2.2. Basic needs at individual level

Replace worn-out clothes by some new (not second-hand) ones

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not selected respondent

Two pairs of properly fitting shoes (including a pair of all-weather shoes)

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not selected respondent

2.3. Unmet needs at individual level

Visits to general practitioners and specialists, excluding visits to dentists or
ophthalmologists, during the last 12 months

Not at all

1-2 times

3-5 times

6-9 times

10 times or more

Variable is filled

Missing

Not selected respondent

2.4. Leisure and social activities at individual level

Get-together with friends/family (relatives) for a drink/meal at least once a
month

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

1

2

3

1

-1

-3

1

2

3

1

-1

-3

1

2

3

1

-1

-3

1

2

3

4

5

1

-1

-3

1

2

3

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Module 2009

Variable name

Code

Material deprivation

Target variable

PD050_F

PD060

PD060_F

PD070

PD070_F

HD100

HD100_F

HD110

HD110_F

HD120

HD120_F

1

-1

-3

1

2

3

1

-1

-3

1

2

3

1

-1

-3

1

2

3

1

-1

-2

1

2

3

1

-1

-2

1

2

3

1

-1

-2

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, for some other 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, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not selected respondent

3. Children’s item questions asked at household level

3.1. Basic needs for all household children

Some new (not second-hand) clothes

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16)

Two pairs of properly fitting shoes (including a pair of all-weather shoes)

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16)

Fresh fruit and vegetables once a day

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16)

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Module 2009

Variable name

Code

Material deprivation

Target variable

HD130

Three meals a day

HD130_F

HD140

HD140_F

HD150

HD150_F

HD160

HD160_F

HD170

HD170_F

HD180

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

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16)

One meal with meat, chicken or fish (or vegetarian equivalent) at least once a
day

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16)

3.2. Educational or leisure needs for all household children

Books at home suitable for their age

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16)

Outdoor leisure equipment (bicycle, roller skates, etc.)

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16)

Indoor games (educational baby toys, building blocks, board games, computer
games, etc.)

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16)

Regular leisure activity (swimming, playing an instrument, youth organisations,
etc.)

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

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Module 2009

Variable name

Code

Material deprivation

Target variable

HD180_F

HD190

HD190_F

HD200

HD200_F

HD210

HD210_F

HD220

HD220_F

HD230

HD230_F

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

-2

1

2

1

-1

-2

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16)

Celebrations on special occasions (birthdays, name days, religious events, etc.)

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16)

Invite friends round to play and eat from time to time

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16)

Participate in school trips and school events that cost money

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16 in school)

Suitable place to study or do homework

Yes

No

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16 in school)

Outdoor space in the neighbourhood where children can play safely

Yes

No

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16)

OPTIONAL: 3.2. Educational or leisure needs for all household children

HD240

Go on holiday at least 1 week per year

1

2

3

Yes

No, because cannot afford it

No, for some other reason

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Module 2009

Variable name

Code

Material deprivation

Target variable

HD240_F

HD250

HD250_F

HD255

HD255_F

HD260

HD260_F

HD265

HD265_F

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

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16)

OPTIONAL: 3.3. Medical needs for all household children

Unmet need for consulting a general practitioner or specialist

Yes, there was at least one occasion

No, there was no occasion

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (no children aged under 16)

Main reason for unmet need for consulting a general practitioner or specialist

Could not afford to (too expensive)

Waiting list

Could not take the time because of work, care of other children or of other persons

Too far to travel/no means of transport

Other reason

Variable is filled

Missing

Not applicable (HD250=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 16)

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 (HD260=2)