Mr. Richard McMahon:

I would like to elaborate on Mr. Dalton's statement. EUROSTAT's proposals effectively ring-fence the QNHS with regard to burden. EUROSTAT is very conscious of increasing the burden but our real worry is with the SILC survey, which is the survey on income and living conditions. The plan is to use that survey as the catch-all survey to measure additional items such as wealth, health and other characteristics. On the QNHS front, I think we are okay from a burden perspective. From the IESS regulation perspective, EUROSTAT is looking at assisting countries in modernising the data collection procedures and will provide support to all member states in moving to computer assisted web interviewing and other data collection techniques.