§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many market research and sample surveys were carried out by or for the Central Office of Information in the last 12 months; what was the cost of each; what was the total cost; how many were carried out in-house; how many were carried out for the Central Office of Information by outside organisations; and what percentage of the total expenditure was paid to outside organisations.
§ Mr. RyderOne hundred and forty-four separate research projects were undertaken by COI on behalf of various Government Departments in 1988–89. The total cost of these, including VAT, was £2.3 million. Interviewing, data analysis and the majority of report preparation was undertaken for COI by specialist commercial organisations, usually appointed on tender: some 70 per cent. of the above cost was paid to those outside organisations. The details of each project is a matter for the Department which commissioned the research.