HC Deb 14 December 1995 vol 268 cc786-93W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all qualitative and quantitative research projects and surveys carried out for his Department into aspects of public attitudes and opinions(a) in general and (b) in relation to specific policy proposals in each of the past three years to December 1995, indicating for each project or survey (i) the date on which the research was commissioned, (ii) the amount which his Department spent, (iii) who carried out the research, (iv) the number of people surveyed or taking part, (v) the location and time scale and (vi) which individuals and organisations have been given access to the findings. [5974]

Mr. Burt

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is given. Information on the time scale of individual research projects and surveys could he obtained only at disproportionate cost.

GENERAL

  1. 1. War Pensions Agency Customer Satisfaction Survey 1994
    1. (i) Commissioned December 1994
    2. (ii) Cost £93 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Public Attitude Surveys ltd.
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—1.350
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report published in DSS Research Series October 1995
  2. 2. Contributions Agency Customer Satisfaction Survey 1993
    1. (i) Commissioned June 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £160 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—British Market Research Bureau International (BMRB)
      4. 787
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—5,958 plus 20 depth interviews
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report published in DSS Research Series July 1994
  3. 3. Contributions Agency Customer Satisfaction Survey 1994
    1. (i) Commissioned June 1994
    2. (ii) Cost £154 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—BMRB International
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—6,545
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report published in DSS Research Series July 1995
  4. 4. Contributions Agency Customer Satisfaction Survey 1995
    1. (i) Commissioned July 1995
    2. (ii) Cost £107.5 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—BMRB International
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—4,000
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Due to be published mid-1996 in the DSS Research Series
  5. 5. Resettlement Agency Customer Satisfaction Survey 19931
    1. (i) Commissioned Summer 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £40 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—BMRB International
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—428
    5. (v) Location—All Resettlement Units
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received. Report to be published early in 1996 with the 1994 survey
  6. 6. Resettlement Agency Customer Satisfaction Survey 19941
    1. (i) Commissioned Autumn 1994
    2. (ii) Cost £19.5 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—BMRB International
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—210
    5. (v) Location—All Resettlement Units
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received. Report to be published early in 1996
  7. 7. Child Support Agency National Client Satisfaction Survey 1993
    1. (i) Commissioned Spring 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £160 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Market and Opinion Research International
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—1,882
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report published in DSS Research Series July 1994
  8. 8. Child Support Agency National Client Satisfaction Survey 1994
    1. (i) Commissioned July 1994
    2. (ii) Cost £225 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Market and Opinion Research International
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—3,233
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report published in DSS Research Series July 1995
  9. 9. Child Support Agency National Client Satisfaction Survey 1995
    1. (i) Commissioned June 1995
    2. (ii) Cost £295K
    3. (iii) Contractor—Market and Opinion Research International
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—2337
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Final report not yet received
    788
  10. 10. The Benefits Agency National Customer Survey 1993
    1. (i) Commissioned May 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £187 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Public Attitude Surveys Limited
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—3.500
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report published by BA Spring 1994
  11. 11. The Benefits Agency National Customer Survey 1994
    1. (i) Commissioned June 1994
    2. (ii) Cost £211 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Public Attitude Surveys Limited
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—3,324
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report published by the BA April 1995
  12. 12. The Benefits Agency National Customer Survey 1995
    1. (i) Commissioned July 1995
    2. (ii) Cost £175 thousand (plus VAT)
    3. (iii) Contractor—Public Attitude Surveys Limited
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—3,500
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Final report not yet received.
  13. 13. Educating Employers: Evaluation of Employer Educational Surveys
    1. (i) Commissioned October 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £35.5 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Public Attitude Surveys (PAS) Limited
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—1.543
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report published in DSS Research Series August 1994
  14. 14. Managing Money in Later Life
    1. (i) Commissioned May 1994
    2. (ii) Cost £40 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Social and Community Planning Research (SCPR)
    4. (iv) number of people interviewed—52
    5. (v) Location—Brentwood, Bridlington, Folkestone, Leeds, London, Manchester, Poole, Reading, Stoke-on-Trent, Worcester, South Wales, Devon, Hampshire, Leicestershire and Yorkshire
    6. (vi) Availability—Report published in DSS Research Series August 1995
  15. 15. Public knowledge of the national insurance system and attitudes towards the contributory principle.
    1. (i) Commissioned January 1994
    2. (ii) Cost £21.5 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS)
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—2,028
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report circulated internally in DSS. Data deposited in ESRC data archive
  16. 16. Survey of public perceptions of non-state pensions.
    1. (i) Commissioned February 1995
    2. (ii) Cost £40 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—OPCS
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—1.989
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—To be published in DSS in-house series (December 1995)
    789
  17. 17. Public perceptions of the level of confidentiality afforded to DSS customers.
    1. (i) Commissioned October 1994
    2. (ii) Cost £26 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Alan Hedges
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—70
    5. (v) Location—London, Reading, Huddersfield and Birmingham
    6. (vi) Availability—Report not yet received.
  18. 18. The Use and Contribution of Child Benefit within the Family Budget
    1. (i) Commissioned September 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £13 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Centre for Research in Social Policy, University of Loughborough
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—69
    5. (v) Location—Leicester and Melton Mowbray
    6. (vi) Availability—Report published
  19. 19. Lone Parents, Work and Benefits
    1. (i) Commissioned February 1994
    2. (ii) Cost £100 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Policy Studies Institute
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—880
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Final report not yet received
  20. 20. Evaluation of the Newcastle in-work benefits initiative
    1. (i) Commissioned March 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £10 thousand (DSS contribution)
    3. (iii) Contractor—Alan Hedges
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—100
    5. (v) Location—Newcastle
    6. (vi) Availability—Report published in DSS in-house series July 1994
  21. 21. The role of Advice Centres and Local Offices in the provision of advice and information about Social Security.
    1. (i) Commissioned October 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £50 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Centre for Research in Social Policy, University of Loughborough
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—300
    5. (v) Location—South Yorkshire, East Anglia, London
    6. (vi) Availability—Report published in DSS Research Series April 1995.
  22. 22. First Time Customers
    1. (i) Commissioned May 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £113 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Social Policy Research Unit, University of York
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—3,700
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report published in DSS Research Series May 1995.
  23. 23. Customer satisfaction with BA local office service
    1. (i) Commissioned October 1994
    2. (ii) Cost £38 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor-Social and Community Planning Research
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—91
    5. (v) Location—three local offices
    6. (vi) Availability—Final report not yet received.
  24. 24. Customer contact with the Benefits Agency
    1. (i) Commissioned May 1995
      2. 790
    2. (ii)Cost £211 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Centre for Research in Social Policy. University of Loughborough
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—3,200
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Final report not yet received.
  25. 25. Deterrent effects of prosecution
    1. (i) Commissioned January 1995
    2. (ii) Cost £48 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Policy Studies Institute
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—45
    5. (v) Location—three local offices
    6. (vi) Availability—Final report not yet received.
  26. 26. Communications between Income Support customers and the Benefits Agency
    1. (i) Commissioned September 1995
    2. (ii) Cost £17 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—British Market Research Bureau International
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—36
    5. (v) Location—three local offices
    6. (vi) Availability—Final report not yet received.
  27. 27. Evaluation of One Stop: One Place
    1. (i) Commissioned September 1994
    2. (ii) Cost £68 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Research Services Limited
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—3,100
    5. (v) Location—six local offices
    6. (vi) Availability—Report published in DSS in-house series June 1995.
  28. 28. CA Leaflet research
    1. (i) Commissioned July 1994
    2. (ii) Cost £19 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Winstanley Douglas Grantham
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—184
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received November 1995. Internal CA distribution only.
  29. 29. Social Security Advice Line for Employers (SSALE)
    1. (i) Commissioned March 1994
    2. (ii) Cost £42 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—IFF Research
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—1,000
    5. (v) Location—Newcastle
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received September 1994, Internal CA distribution only.
  30. 30. Tripartite Telephone helpdesk research
    1. (i) Commissioned September 1995
    2. (ii) Cost £33 thousand (plus VAT)
    3. (iii) Contractor—IFF Research
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—1.800
    5. (v) Location—Scotland
    6. (vi) Availability—Final report not yet received.
  31. 31. CA customer service general research
    1. (i) Commissioned December 1994
    2. (ii) Cost £17 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—BMRB
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—28
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received March 1995. Internal CA distribution only.

Research Relevant to Specific Policy Proposals

  1. 1. Evaluation of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA): Survey of Unemployed Claimants
    1. (i) Commissioned June 1995
    2. (ii) Cost £443.6 thousand1
    3. (iii) Contractor—Centre for Research in Social Policy (CRSP)
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—850 (baseline survey pre-JSA, with a similar number after the introduction of JSA)
    5. (v) Location—National
    6. (vi) Availability—Final reports not yet received 1 DSS share of costs over 4 years—project jointly funded with DfEE and ES
  2. 2. BA/ES pilot evaluation
    1. (i) Commissioned early 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £50 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Public Attitude Surveys Limited
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—1,260
    5. (v) Location—55 Employment Service job centres
    6. (vi) Availability —Report published by PAS March 1994
  3. 3. Lone Parent Caseworker Pilots
    1. (i) Commissioned February 1995
    2. (ii) Cost of £141 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor-Centre for Research in Social Policy, University of Loughborough
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed-I,000
    5. (v) Location—Folkestone, Rochdale, Stevenage, West Notts.
    6. (vi) Availability—Final report not yet received
  4. 4. Anti-Fraud attitude survey
    1. (i) Commissioned September 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £24 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Research Surveys of Great Britain Ltd (RSGB)
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—1,022
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received September 1993. Internal DSS distribution only
  5. 5. Anti-Fraud campaign strategy development
    1. (i) Commissioned July 1992
    2. (ii) Cost of £33 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Reflexions
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—117
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received August 1993. Internal DSS distribution only
  6. 6. Why Translate? Pilot Study
    1. (i) Commissioned november 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £20 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—MORI
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—112
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received November 1993. Internal DSS distribution only
  7. 7. Incapacity Benefit: Advisors and GPs
    1. (i) Commissioned January 1995
    2. (ii) Cost £31 thousand
    3. (iii)Contractor—DVL Smith
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—30
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received February 1995. Internal DSS distribution only
    792
  8. 8. Family Credit campaign tracking
    1. (i) Commissioned April 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £33 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—RSGB
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—1.200
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received June 1993. Internal DSS distribution only
  9. 9. DWA/MENCAP Video Evaluation
    1. (i) Commissioned November 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £10 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Winstanley Douglas Grantham
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—14
    5. (v) Location-national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received November 1993. Internal DSS distribution only
  10. 10. DWA data base evaluation
    1. (i) Commissioned November 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £15 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Recruitment and Assessment Services (RAS)
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—502
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received November 1993. Internal DSS distribution only
  11. 11. DWA Advisors Monitor
    1. (i) Commissioned April 1993
    2. (ii) Cost £26 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—MAI
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—46
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received April 1993. Internal DSS distribution only
  12. 12. You and Disability Responders
    1. (i) Commissioned March 1995
    2. (ii) Cost £20 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—BMRB
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—375
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received March 1995. Internal DSS distribution only
  13. 13. Pensions Publicity Awareness
    1. (i) Commissioned October 1995
    2. (d) Cost £24 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—BMRB
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—20,650
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received October 1995. Internal DSS distribution only
  14. 14. Disability Strategic Development
    1. (i) Commissioned May 1995
    2. (ii) Cost £57 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Andrew Irving Associates
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—96
    5. ( v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received July 1995. Internal DSS distribution only
  15. 15 Working with Benefits tracking
    1. (i) Commissioned June 1995
    2. (ii) Cost £126 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Research International
      4. 793
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed—2,400
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received August 1995. Internal DSS distribution only
  16. 16. Unemployed Lifestyles
    1. (i) Commissioned September 1995
    2. (ii) Cost £48 thousand
    3. (iii) Contractor—Andrew Irving Associates
    4. (iv) Number of people interviewed —115
    5. (v) Location—national
    6. (vi) Availability—Report received October 1995. Internal DSS distribution only
      1. 17. NICS Holiday
    7. (i) Commissioned September 1995
    8. (ii) Cost £32 thousand
    9. (iii) Contractor—NOP
    10. (iv) Number of people interviewed—80
    11. (v) Location—national
    12. (vi) Availability—Report received October 1995. Internal DSS distribution only

The Department's Research Programme is announced each year. Details and overall costs of all projects are set out in the Department's Research Yearbook, published annually by HMSO, copies of which are available in the Library. Previous editions cover projects from 1989 onwards; the Yearbook for 1994–95, to be published today (14th December) will contain details of current projects.