§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many market research and sample surveys were carried out by or for his Department 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 his Department by outside organisations; and what percentage of the total expenditure was paid to outside organisations.
§ Mr. Chris PattenIn the past year, 25 market research and sampling surveys (excluding those connected with water privatisation) have been carried out for my Department at total cost of around £1 million. A further six projects were carried out in house. These figures include sample surveys of businesses and local authorities, as well as of members of the general public.
The cost of individual contracts are a matter of commercial confidentiality, and those of in-house surveys cannot be given except at disproportionate cost. The costs of water privatisation will be announced to Parliament in due course in the usual way.