Procedure for applying for confidential data for research purposes

Approved by Eesti Pank Governor’s Regulation No 57 of 24.05.2016

Under: AvTS § 38 (6)

1. General provisions

This procedure regulates the dissemination for use in scientific research of confidential data collected by Eesti Pank for the purposes of national statistics in accordance with § 38 of the Official Statistics Act.

2. Definitions

2.1. Confidential data are intended under the Official Statistics Act to mean data that allow a statistical entity to be identified directly or indirectly such that personal data can then be disclosed.

2.2. A statistical entity can be identified directly if the data contain the name, address or personal or registry code of the statistical entity.

2.3. A statistical entity can be identified indirectly if there are no data allowing direct identification, but the identity of the statistical entity can be established from other data.

2.4. A statistical entity is an object or a subject described by data that are collected, statistically processed or disclosed in the preparation of national statistics.

2.5. Personal data are detailed data that describe an individual statistical entity.

3. Submission and processing of applications

3.1. A legal entity or institution that needs confidential data for research purposes submits an electronic application to Eesti Pank (see Application).

3.2. Applications for the dissemination of confidential data for scientific research purposes are reviewed by the head of the Statistics Department and the head of the division of the Statistics Department who is responsible for the statistical process concerned. Where necessary, other members of staff of Eesti Pank are consulted and advice is sought from other state statistical bodies.

3.3. The people listed in point 3.2 weigh the reasoning behind the application, the reliability of the data-user, and the sufficiency of the proposed data protection measures, and take a decision on the use of the confidential data for research purposes within thirty (30) working days from receipt of all the documents needed for assessment of the application.

3.4. The Statistics Department informs the applicant of the decision by email.

3.5. If the application is accepted, Eesti Pank signs an agreement with the legal entity or institution applying, before disseminating the data, and gives liability for confidentiality to every person that will use the data during the research. In accordance with § 38 (2) of the Official Statistics Act, such agreement cannot be signed with private individuals.

4. The processing, dissemination and storage of confidential data

4.1. Data and metadata disseminated for scientific research purposes are prepared in advance by the Statistics Department.

4.2. The form of the data and the level of detail of the metadata are agreed separately with the party receiving the data.

4.3. Eesti Pank stores all the confidential data disseminated for scientific research purposes for five (5) years in the form that they were made available for the particular research work.

4.4. The researcher informs the Statistics Department of the publication of the research work and destroys the data after the work is finished.

5. Compliance control

Eesti Pank Statistics Department monitors compliance with this procedure.