Commission Regulation (EC) No 198/2006 of 3 February 2006 implementing Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005 of the European Parliament and the Council on statistics relating to vocational training in enterprises (Text with EEA relevance) (c. 198)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 198/2006

of 3 February 2006

implementing Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005 of the European Parliament and the Council on statistics relating to vocational training in enterprises

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005 of the European Parliament and the Council of 7 September 2005 on statistics relating to vocational training in enterprises(1), and in particular Articles 7(3), 8(2), 9(4), 10(2), and 11(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005 establishes a common framework for the production of Community statistics on vocational training in enterprises.

(2) In order to implement Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005, measures concerning the sampling and precision requirements and sample size needed to meet these requirement, and the detailed NACE and size categories into which the results can be broken down, should be adopted.

(3) The Commission should define the specific data to be collected with respect to the training and non-training enterprises and to the different forms of vocational training.

(4) Implementing measures concerning the quality requirements for the data to be collected and transmitted for Community statistics on vocational training in enterprises, the structure of the quality reports and any measures necessary for assessing or improving the quality of the data should be adopted.

(5) The first reference year for which the data are to be collected should be established.

(6) Provisions should also be adopted concerning the appropriate technical format and interchange standard of the electronically transmitted data.

(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Statistical Programme Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1 U.K.

This Regulation lays down measures to implement Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005 on statistics relating to vocational training in enterprises.

Article 2 U.K.

The first reference year for which the data are to be collected shall be the calendar year 2005.

Article 3 U.K.

The specific variables to be transmitted to the Commission (Eurostat) shall be as specified in Annex I.

Article 4 U.K.

Sampling and precision requirements, the sample sizes needed to meet these requirements, and the detailed specifications of the NACE and size categories into which the results can be broken down shall be as specified in Annex II.

Article 5 U.K.

Member States shall be responsible for data checking, error correction, imputation and weighting.

Imputation and weighting of variables shall follow the principles laid down in Annex III. Derogation from these principles shall be fully justified and reported in the quality report.

Article 6 U.K.

Data shall be transmitted to the Commission (Eurostat) by the means and in the format specified in Annex IV.

Article 7 U.K.

Each Member State shall perform a quality evaluation of its data, to be presented in the form of a quality report. The quality report shall be prepared and presented to the Commission (Eurostat) in accordance with the format specified in Annex V.

Article 8 U.K.

With a view to achieving a high level of harmonisation of the survey results across countries, the Commission (Eurostat) in close cooperation with Member States, shall propose methodological and practical recommendations and guidelines for the implementation of the survey in the form of a ‘European Union Manual’.

Article 9 U.K.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

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

Done at Brussels, 3 February 2006.

For the Commission

Joaquín Almunia

Member of the Commission

ANNEX I U.K.

VARIABLES

Note to the table: The value ‘core’ and ‘key’ in the column ‘variable group’ are explained in Annex III. The value ‘ID’ means that the variable is an ‘identification variable’. In the column ‘variable type’ the value ‘QL’ refers to ‘Qualitative variable’ and ‘QT’ refers to ‘Quantitative variable’.
Variable name	Variable group	Variable type	Variable length	Variable format	Variable description	Variable remark
COUNTRY	ID		2	Char	Country code	No missing — Unique by Country
ENTERPR	ID		6	Num	Enterprise ID	No missing — Unique by case
WEIGHT	ID		10	Num	Two decimal positions — Use ‘.’ as decimal separator	No missing
NACE_SP	ID		4	Num	Sampling plan NACE — Category economic activity	No missing
SIZE_SP	ID		1	Num	Sampling plan size group	No missing
NSTRA_SP	ID		5	Num	Sampling plan — Number of enterprises in the stratum defined by NACE_SP and SIZE_SP, i.e. the population	No missing
N_SP	ID		5	Num	Sampling plan — Number of sampled enterprises from the sample-frame in the stratum defined by NACE_SP and SIZE_SP	No missing
SUB_SP	ID		1	Num	Sub-sample indicator, shows if enterprise belongs to sub-sample	No missing
N_RESPST	ID		5	Num	Number of responding enterprises in the stratum defined by NACE_SP and SIZE_SP, i.e. the population	No missing
N_EMPREG	ID		6	Num	Number of persons employed according to the register
RESPONSE	ID		1	Num	Response indicator	No missing
PROC	ID		2	Num	Record data collection method	No missing
IDLANGUA	ID		2	Char	Language identification
IDREGION	ID		3	Char	Region identification NUTS — Level 1	No missing
EXTRA1	ID		10	Num	Extra variable 1
EXTRA2	ID		10	Num	Extra variable 2
EXTRA3	ID		10	Num	Extra variable 3
A1	Core	QL	4	Num	Actual NACE CODE	Core variable — No missing — No imputation
A2tot04	Key	QT	6	Num	Total number of persons employed 31.12.2004	Key variable — No missing
A2tot05	Core	QT	6	Num	Total number of persons employed 31.12.2005	Core variable — No missing — No imputation
A2m05		QT	6	Num	Total number of males employed 31.12.2005
A2f05		QT	6	Num	Total number of females employed 31.12.2005
A3a		QT	6	Num	Persons employed — Under 25 years of age
A3b		QT	6	Num	Persons employed — 25 to 54 years of age
A3c		QT	6	Num	Persons employed — 55 years and older
A4	Key	QT	12	Num	Total number of hours worked in the reference year 2005 by persons employed	Key variable — No missing — in hours
A4m		QT	12	Num	Total number of hours worked in the reference year 2005 by male persons employed	In hours
A4f		QT	12	Num	Total number of hours worked in the reference year 2005 by female persons employed	In hours
A5	Key	QT	12	Num	Total labour costs (direct + indirect) of all persons employed in the ref year 2005	Key variable — No missing — in euro
A6		QL	1	Num	SIGNIFICANTLY new technologically improved products or services or methods of producing or delivering products and services during the reference year
B1a	Core	QL	1	Num	Internal CVT courses	Core variable — No missing — No imputation
B1b	Core	QL	1	Num	External CVT courses	Core variable — No missing — No imputation
B2aflag	Core	QL	1	Num	Flag — On-the-job training	Core variable — No missing — No imputation
B2a		QT	6	Num	Participants in other form of CVT — On-the-job training
B2bflag	Core	QL	1	Num	Flag — Job rotation	Core variable — No missing — No imputation
B2b		QT	6	Num	Participants in other form of CVT — Job-rotation, exchanges, secondments or study visits
B2cflag	Core	QL	1	Num	Flag — Learning and quality circles	Core variable — No missing — No imputation
B2c		QT	6	Num	Participants in other form of CVT — Learning or quality circles
B2dflag	Core	QL	1	Num	Flag — Self-directed learning	Core variable — No missing — No imputation
B2d		QT	6	Num	Participants in other form of CVT — Self-directed learning
B2eflag	Core	QL	1	Num	Flag — Attendance at conferences etc.	Core variable — No missing — No imputation
B2e		QT	6	Num	Participants in other form of CVT — Attendance at conferences, etc.
B3a		QL	1	Num	CVT courses for persons employed in the previous year 2004
B3b		QL	1	Num	Expect to provide CVT courses for persons employed during the next year 2006
B4a		QL	1	Num	Other forms of CVT for persons employed in the previous year 2004
B4b		QL	1	Num	Expect to provide other forms of CVT for persons employed during the next year 2006
C1tot	Key	QT	6	Num	Total CVT course participants	Key variable — No missing
C1m		QT	6	Num	CVT course participants — Male
C1f		QT	6	Num	CVT course participants — Female
C2a		QT	6	Num	CVT participants — Under 25 years of age
C2b		QT	6	Num	CVT participants — 25 to 54 years of age
C2c		QT	6	Num	CVT participants — 55 years and older
C3tot	Key	QT	10	Num	Paid working time (in hours) spent on all CVT courses	Key variable — No missing — In hours
C3i		QT	10	Num	Paid working time (in hours) for internal CVT courses	In hours
C3e		QT	10	Num	Paid working time (in hours) for external CVT courses	In hours
C4tot	Key	QT	10	Num	Paid working time (in hours) spent on all CVT courses	Key variable — No missing — In hours
C4m		QT	10	Num	Paid working time (in hours) in CVT courses — Male	In hours
C4f		QT	10	Num	Paid working time (in hours) in CVT courses — Female	In hours
C5a		QT	10	Num	Paid working time in hours — Languages, foreign (222) and mother tongue (223)	In hours
C5b		QT	10	Num	Paid working time in hours — Sales (341) and marketing (342)	In hours
C5c		QT	10	Num	Paid working time in hours — Accounting (344) and finance (343), management and administration (345) and office work (346)	In hours
C5d		QT	10	Num	Paid working time in hours — Personal skills/development (090), working life (347)	In hours
C5e		QT	10	Num	Paid working time in hours — Computer science (481) and computer use (482)	In hours
C5f		QT	10	Num	Paid working time in hours — Engineering, manufacturing and construction (5)	In hours
C5g		QT	10	Num	Paid working time in hours — Environment protection (850) and occupational health and safety (862)	In hours
C5h		QT	10	Num	Paid working time in hours — Personal services (81), transport services (84), protection of property and persons (861) and military (863)	In hours
C5i		QT	10	Num	Paid working time in hours — Other training subjects	In hours
C6a		QT	10	Num	Paid working time (in hours) — Schools, colleges, universities and other higher education institutions	In hours
C6b		QT	10	Num	Paid working time (in hours) — Public training institutions (financed or guided by the government; e.g. adult education centre)	In hours
C6c		QT	10	Num	Paid working time in (hours) — Private training companies	In hours
C6d		QT	10	Num	Paid working time (in hours) — Private companies whose main activity is not training, (equipment suppliers, parent/associate companies)	In hours
C6e		QT	10	Num	Paid working time (in hours) — Employers’ associations, chambers of commerce, sector bodies	In hours
C6f		QT	10	Num	Paid working time (in hours) — Trade unions	In hours
C6g		QT	10	Num	Paid working time (in hours) — Other training providers	In hours
C7aflag		QL	1	Num	Flag — fees
C7a		QT	10	Num	CVT course costs — Fees and payments for courses for employees	In euro
C7bflag		QL	1	Num	Flag — Travel costs
C7b		QT	10	Num	CVT course costs — Travel and subsistence payments	In euro
C7cflag		QL	1	Num	Flag — Labour costs trainers
C7c		QT	10	Num	CVT course costs — Labour costs of internal trainers	In euro
C7dflag		QL	1	Num	Flag — Training centre and teaching materials etc.
C7d		QT	10	Num	CVT course costs — Training centre, or rooms and teaching materials for CVT courses	In euro
C7sflag		QL	1	Num	‘Sub-total only’ flag
C7sub	Key	QT	10	Num	CVT costs sub-total	Key variable — No missing — In euro
PAC	Key	QT	10	Num	Personal absence cost — to be calculated (PAC=C3tot*A5/A4)	Key variable — No missing — In euro
C8aflag		QL	1	Num	Flag — CVT contributions
C8a		QT	10	Num	Contributions CVT	In euro
C8bflag		QL	1	Num	Flag — CVT receipts
C8b		QT	10	Num	Receipts CVT	In euro
C7tot	Key	QT	10	Num	Total cost CVT — To be calculated (C7sub + C8a – C8b)	Key variable — No missing — In euro
C9a1		QL	1	Num	Migrants and ethnic minorities — Employed
C9a2		QL	1	Num	Migrants and ethnic minorities — Specific courses
C9b1		QL	1	Num	Persons with a disability — Employed
C9b2		QL	1	Num	Persons with a disability — Specific courses
C9c1		QL	1	Num	Persons without formal qualifications — Employed
C9c2		QL	1	Num	Persons without formal qualifications — Specific courses
C9d1		QL	1	Num	Persons at risk of losing job/redundancy — Employed
C9d2		QL	1	Num	Persons at risk of losing job/redundancy — Specific courses
C10a1		QL	1	Num	Part-time contract persons — Employed
C10a2		QL	1	Num	CVT courses geared to part-time contract holders
C10b1		QL	1	Num	Fixed term contract persons — Employed
C10b2		QL	1	Num	CVT courses geared to fixed term contract holders
D1		QL	1	Num	Own or shared training centre
D2		QL	1	Num	Person or unit within your enterprise with responsibility for the organisation of CVT
D3		QL	1	Num	Enterprise makes use of an external advisory service
D4		QL	1	Num	Enterprise implements regular formal procedures with the objective of evaluating the future skills needs of the enterprise
D5		QL	1	Num	Conduct structured interviews with its employees with the objective of establishing the specific training needs of persons employed
D6		QL	1	Num	Planning of CVT in the enterprise lead to a written training plan or programme
D7		QL	1	Num	Annual training budget, which includes provision for CVT
D8		QL	1	Num	Measure the satisfaction of the persons trained after the training
D9		QL	1	Num	After the training assess the trainees to establish whether the targeted skills were in fact successfully acquired
D10		QL	1	Num	Enterprise assess the participants’ occupational behaviour and change in performance following the training
D11		QL	1	Num	Measures the impact of training on business performance through the use of indicators
D12		QL	1	Num	National, sectorial or other agreements between the social partners, which influenced the CVT plans, policies and practices
D13		QL	1	Num	Existence of a formal structure
D13a		QL	1	Num	Role of formal structure — Objective and priority setting for CVT activities
D13b		QL	1	Num	Role of formal structure — Establishing the criteria for the selection of the target population who should participate to CVT
D13c		QL	1	Num	Role of formal structure — The subject matter of the CVT activity
D13d		QL	1	Num	Role of formal structure — The budgeting process related to CVT
D13e		QL	1	Num	Role of formal structure — The procedure for the selection external CVT providers
D13f		QL	1	Num	Role of formal structure — Evaluation of training outcomes
D14a		QL	1	Num	Publicly-funded advisory service aimed at identifying training needs and/or developing training plans
D14b		QL	1	Num	Financial subsidies towards the costs of training persons employed
D14c		QL	1	Num	Tax relief on expenditure on training persons employed
D14d		QL	1	Num	Procedures to ensure the standards of trainers (e.g. by national registers, assessment etc.)
D14e		QL	1	Num	Provision of recognised standards and frameworks for qualifications and certification
D15a		QL	1	Num	The high costs of CVT courses	Max 3 — No ranking
D15b		QL	1	Num	The lack of suitable CVT courses in the market	Max 3 — No ranking
D15c		QL	1	Num	Difficulties in assessing the enterprise's CVT needs	Max 3 — No ranking
D15d		QL	1	Num	A major training effort was realised in a previous year	Max 3 — No ranking
D15e		QL	1	Num	The high workload and the limited available time of persons employed	Max 3 — No ranking
D15f		QL	1	Num	The current level of training is appropriate to the enterprises needs	Max 3 — No ranking
D15g		QL	1	Num	A higher focus on IVT than CVT	Max 3 — No ranking
D15h		QL	1	Num	Other reasons	Max 3 — No ranking
E1a		QL	1	Num	The existing skills and competences corresponded to the current needs of the enterprise	Max 3 — No ranking
E1b		QL	1	Num	The enterprise’s preferred strategy was to recruit individuals with the required skills and competencies	Max 3 — No ranking
E1c		QL	1	Num	The enterprise had difficulties in assessing its needs concerning CVT	Max 3 — No ranking
E1d		QL	1	Num	The lack of suitable CVT courses in the market	Max 3 — No ranking
E1e		QL	1	Num	The costs of CVT courses were too high for the enterprise	Max 3 — No ranking
E1f		QL	1	Num	The enterprise preferred to focus on IVT rather than CVT	Max 3 — No ranking
E1g		QL	1	Num	An investment in CVT was made in a previous year and did not require to be repeated in 2005	Max 3 — No ranking
E1h		QL	1	Num	The persons employed had no available time to participation in CVT	Max 3 — No ranking
E1i		QL	1	Num	Other reasons	Max 3 — No ranking
F1tot05	Core	QT	6	Num	Total number of IVT participants in the enterprise during 2005	Core variable — No missing — No imputation
F1m05		QT	6	Num	Total number of male IVT participants in the enterprise during 2005
F1f05		QT	6	Num	Total number of female IVT participants in the enterprise during 2005
F2aflag		QL	1	Num	Flag — IVT individual labour costs
F2a		QT	10	Num	IVT costs — Labour costs of individuals registered on an IVT activity	In euro
F2bflag		QL	1	Num	Flag — IVT other costs
F2b		QT	10	Num	IVT costs — Other costs — Training fees, travel costs, teaching materials, costs of training centres etc.	In euro
F2cflag		QL	1	Num	Flag — IVT trainer or mentor labour costs	Optional variable
F2c		QT	10	Num	IVT costs — Labour costs of IVT trainers or mentors	Optional variable — In euro
F3aflag		QL	1	Num	Flag IVT contributions
F3a		QT	10	Num	Contributions IVT	In euro
F3bflag		QL	1	Num	Flag IVT receipts
F3b		QT	10	Num	Receipts IVT	In euro
F2tot	Key	QT	10	Num	Total IVT costs (F2b + F3a – F3b)	Key variable — No missing — In euro

ANNEX II U.K. SAMPLE

1. The Statistical Business Register (SBR) referred to in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2186/93(2) shall normally be taken as the main source of the sampling frame. A nationally representative stratified probability sample of enterprises shall be taken from this frame. U.K.

2. The sample shall be stratified by NACE and size category according to the following minimum specification: U.K.

• 20 NACE rev1.1 categories (C, D (15-16, 17-19, 21-22, 23-26, 27-28, 29-33, 34-35, 20 + 36-37), E, F, G (50, 51, 52), H, I (60-63, 64), J (65-66, 67), K + O)

• 3 enterprise size categories, according to their number of persons employed: (10-49) (50-249) (250 and more)

3. A sample size shall be calculated to assure a maximum half length of the 95 % confidence interval of 0,2 for the estimated parameters, which are a proportion of ‘training enterprises’ (after allowance for the non-response rate in the sample) for each of the 60 stratified elements identified above. U.K.

4. The following formula may be used in determining the sample size: U.K.

n_h = 1/[c² . te_h + 1/N_h] / r_h

Where:

n_h

=

the number of sampling units in the stratum cell, h

r_h

=

the anticipated response rate in the stratum cell, h

c

=

maximum length of half the confidence interval

te_h

=

the anticipated proportion of training enterprises in the stratum cell, h

N_h

=

the total number of enterprises (training and non-training) in the stratum cell, h

ANNEX III U.K. Imputation principals and record weighting

Countries shall take all appropriate measures to reduce item and unit non-response. Prior to imputation countries shall make all reasonable efforts to use other data sources.

Core variables, for which no missing value shall be accepted, nor imputation permitted are:

• A1, A2tot05, B1a, B1b, B2aflag, B2bflag, B2cflag, B2dflag, B2eflag, F1tot05.

Key variables, for which every effort should be made to avoid missing values and for which imputation is recommended are:

• A2tot04, A4, A5, C1tot, C3tot, C4tot, C7sub, C7tot, PAC, F2tot.

Imputation for item non-response shall be recommended within the following general limits (Member State experts should at all times apply their professional judgement in the application of these rules):

1.

When a record contains less than 50 % of variables presented then this record shall normally be considered as a unit non-response.

2.

For a single NACE/size cell imputations shall not be allowed if more than 50 % of the responding enterprises have missing data for more than 25 % of the quantitative variables.

3.

For a single NACE/size cell no imputation shall be performed on a quantitative variable if the proportion of responding enterprises for that particular variable is less than 50 %.

4.

For a single NACE/size cell no imputation shall be performed on a qualitative variable if the proportion of responding enterprises for that particular variable is less than 80 %.

Quantitative and qualitative variables are identified in Annex 1.

Departures from these principals shall be fully documented and justified in the national quality report.

Member States shall calculate and transmit a weight to be applied to each data record together with any auxiliary variables, which may have been used in the calculation of this weight. These auxiliary variables should be recorded as the variables EXTRA1, EXTRA2, EXTRA3 as necessary. The methodology adopted for establishing the weights shall be detailed in the quality report.

ANNEX IV U.K. Data file format and transmission rules

Data shall be transmitted to the Commission (Eurostat) in electronic form by means of a secure data transmission software application (STADIUM/EDAMIS) to be made available by the Commission (Eurostat).

Countries shall transmit two checked data sets to ESTAT:

(a)

the data set prior to imputation with preliminary checks;

(b)

the fully checked data set after imputation.

Both data sets shall contain the variables identified in Annex 1.

Both files shall be presented in comma separated variable (.csv) format. The first record in each file shall be a header record containing the ‘variable names’ as defined in Annex 1. Subsequent records shall detail the values of these variables for each responding enterprise.

ANNEX V U.K. QUALITY REPORT FORMAT

1. RELEVANCE U.K.

Implementation of the survey and the degree to which statistics meet current and potential user’s needs.

• Description and classification of users.

• Individual needs of each user group.

• Evaluation if and to what degree these needs have been satisfied.

2. ACCURACY U.K.

2.1 Sampling errors U.K.

• Description of the sample design and the realised sample.

• Description of the calculation of the final weights including non-response model and auxiliary variables used.

• Estimator used, e.g. Horvitz-Thompson estimator.

• Variance of the estimates according to the sample strata.

• Variance estimation software.

• In particularly, a description of the auxiliary variables or information used should be reported in order to recalculate the final weights within Eurostat since it is needed for variance estimation.

• In case of non-response analysis, a description of the biases in the sample and results.

Tables to be provided (broken down by NACE and size classes according to the national sampling plan):

• Number of enterprises in the sampling frame.

• Number of enterprises in the sample.

Tables to be provided (broken down by NACE and size classes according to the national sampling plan, however allocation according to the observed enterprise characteristics):

• Coefficients of variation(3) for the following key statistics.

  • Total number of persons employed.

  • Total number of enterprises that provided CVT.

  • Ratio of the total number of enterprises that provided CVT to the total number of enterprises.

  • Total number of enterprises that provided CVT courses.

  • Ratio of the total number of enterprises that provided CVT courses to the total number of enterprises.

  • Total number of persons employed in enterprises that provided CVT.

  • Total number of participants in CVT courses.

  • Ratio of the total number of participants in CVT courses to the total number of persons employed.

  • Ratio of the total number of participants in CVT courses to the total number of persons employed in enterprises that provided CVT.

  • Total costs of CVT courses.

  • Total number of enterprises providing IVT.

  • Total number of participants in IVT.

  • Total costs of IVT.

  • Ratio of the total number of enterprises providing IVT to the total number of enterprises.

2.2 Non-sampling errors U.K.

2.2.1 Coverage errors U.K.

• Description of the register used for sampling, and its overall quality.

• Information included in the register, and its updating frequency.

• Errors due to the discrepancies between the sampling frame and the target population and sub-populations (over-coverage, under-coverage, misclassifications).

• Methods used to obtain this information.

• Notes on the processing of misclassifications.

Tables to be provided (broken down by NACE and size classes according to the national sampling plan, however allocation according to the observed enterprise characteristics):

• Number of enterprises.

• Ratio of the number of enterprises for which the observed strata equals the sampling strata: the number of enterprises in the sampling strata. Indicate whether the changes of activities have been taken into account.

2.2.2 Measurement errors U.K.

Where appropriate an assessment of errors that occurred at the stage of data collection due for example to:

• The questionnaire design (results of pre-tests or laboratory methods; questioning strategies) — questionnaire to be submitted in annex.

• Reporting unit/respondent (reactions of respondents):

  • Memory errors.

  • Lack of attention of the respondents.

  • Effects of age, education etc.

  • Errors when filling the forms.

• Information system of the respondent and the use of administrative records (correspondence between the administrative and survey concept, e.g. Reference period, availability of individual data).

• Modes of data collection (comparison of different data collection methods).

• Interviewer characteristics and behaviour.

  • Socio-economic characteristics.

  • Different ways of administering the questionnaire.

  • Different assistance to the respondent.

  • Specific studies or techniques to assess these errors.

• Methods used to reduce this kind of errors.

• Detailed comments on problems with the questionnaire as a whole or with single questions (comments on all variables).

• Description and assessment of measures taken to assure the high quality of ‘participants’ and to assure that ‘participant events’ were not collected.

2.2.3 Processing errors U.K.

Description of the data editing process.

• Processing system and tools used.

• Errors due to coding, editing, weighting, and tabulation etc.

• Quality checks at macro/micro level.

• Corrections and failed edits breakdown into missing values, errors and anomalies.

2.2.4 Non-response errors U.K.

• A description of the measures undertaken regarding ‘re-contacts’.

• Unit and item response rates.

• Assessment of unit non-response.

• Assessment item non-response.

• Full report on imputation procedures including methods used for imputation and/or re-weighting.

• Methodological notes and results of non-response analysis or other methods to assess the effects of non-response.

Tables to be provided (broken down by NACE and size classes according to the national sampling plan, however allocation according to the observed enterprise characteristics):

• Unit response rates(4).

• Item response rates(5) for the following with respect to all respondents.

  • Total number of hours work as a function of all respondents.

  • Total labour cost as a function of all respondents.

• Item response rates for the following with respect to enterprises offering CVT courses.

  • CVT courses by specific age groups as a function of enterprises offering CVT courses.

  • Total number of participants in courses, males, females as a function of enterprises offering CVT courses.

  • Total number of hours on CVT courses, males, females as a function of enterprises offering CVT courses.

  • Number of hours on CVT courses managed internally and externally as a function of enterprises offering CVT courses.

  • Total costs of CVT courses as a function of enterprises offering CVT courses.

• Item response rates for the following with respect to enterprises offering IVT.

  • Total costs of IVT as a function of enterprises offering IVT.

3. TIMELINESS AND PUNCTUALITY U.K.

• Table of dates when each of the following phases of the project started and ended.

  • Data collection.

  • Sending out questionnaires.

  • Reminders and follow-up.

  • Face-to-face interviews.

  • Data checking and editing.

  • Further validation and imputation.

  • Non-response survey (as appropriate).

  • Estimations.

  • Data transmission to Eurostat.

  • Dissemination of national results.

4. ACCESSIBILITY AND CLARITY U.K.

• What results where or will be sent to enterprises.

• Dissemination scheme of results.

• Copy of any methodological documents relating to the statistics provided.

5. COMPARABILITY U.K.

• As appropriate and relevant countries should comment upon.

  • Deviations from the European questionnaire.

  • Was the survey linked to another national survey.

  • To what extent was the survey realised through existing data in registers.

  • Definitions and recommendations.

6. COHERENCE U.K.

• Comparison of statistics for the same phenomenon or item from other surveys or sources.

• Assessment of coherence with structural business statistics for the number of persons employed as a function of NACE and Size Group.

• Assessment of the coherence of the age group distribution of persons employed (A3a,A3b,A3c) with other national data sources as a function of NACE and size group (if available).

• Assessment of the coherence of the age group distribution of CVT participants (C2a,C2b,C2c) with other national data sources as a function of NACE and size group (if available).

Tables to provide (broken down by NACE and size classes according to the national sampling plan, however allocation according to the observed enterprise characteristics):

• Number of persons employed from Structural Business Statistics (Commission Regulation (EC) No 2700/98(6) — code 16 11 0).

• Number of persons employed from CVTS3.

• Percentage of differences (SBS — CVTS3)/SBS.

• Number of persons employed for each age group A3a,A3b,A3c.

• Number of persons employed in other source for each age group.

• Percentage of differences of (A3x — other national source A3x)/A3x (where x = a, b, c).

• Number of CVT participants for each age group C2a,C2b,C2c.

• Number of CVT participants in other source for each age group.

• Percentage of CVT participants (C2x — other national source of C2x)/C2x (where x = a, b, c).

7. BURDEN AND BENEFIT U.K.

• Analysis of the burden and benefit at the national level through for example a consideration of:

  • Average time for answering to the each questionnaire.

  • Problematic questions and variables.

  • Which variables have been most/least useful in describing CVT at the national level.

  • Estimated or actual satisfaction level of data users at the national level.

  • Different burden for small and large enterprises.

  • Efforts made to reduce burden.

(1)

OJ L 255, 30.9.2005, p. 1.

(2)

OJ L 196, 5.8.1993, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1).

(3)

The coefficient of variation is the ratio of the square root of the variance of the estimator to the expected value. It is estimated by the ratio of the square root of the estimate of the sampling variance to the estimated value. The estimation of the sampling variance must take into account the sampling design and changes of strata.

(4)

The unit response rate is the ratio of the number of in scope respondents to the number of questionnaires sent to the population selected.

(5)

The item response rate for a variable is the ratio of the number of available data to the number of available and missing data (equal to the number of in scope respondents).

(6)

OJ L 344, 18.12.1998, p. 49. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1670/2003 (OJ L 244, 29.9.2003, p. 74).