§ Mr. FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the projects undertaken by her Department since 1 May 1997 to research public reaction to(a) Government policies and (b) potential new policies; and if she will place the results of the research in the Library. [46680]
§ Mr. FieldIn line with the practice of successive Administrations, the Department routinely consults the public, interested parties and client groups by way of consultation papers, White Papers and discussion groups on a wide range of policies and proposed legislation. It is our normal practice to make the findings of all projects in the Department's Research Programme available to the public, including placing copies in the Library.
In my Written Answer to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 11 May 1998, Official Report, columns 29–30, we provided a list of the focus group 150W projects which the Department has undertaken since 1 May 1997 to explore qualitatively public attitudes to existing and future policies.
Two additional focus group studies have been commissioned since then:
- Attitudes to methods of making benefit payments.
- Attitudes to survivors benefits.
Work commissioned under our ongoing call-off contract with Social and Community Planning Research has included studies on attitudes to lone parents working; to child support arrangements following relationship breakdown; and views on proposals for partners of Jobseeker's Allowance claimants.
Since 1 May 1997, we have also tested public attitudes quantitatively. A small-scale telephone poll was undertaken exploring attitudes to welfare reform issues, and we have on occasion commissioned questions for inclusion in the Office for National Statistics Omnibus Survey which have allowed us to test quantitatively attitudes to particular policy areas. Questions have been asked about sickness and disability benefits, lone parents working, financial top-ups, conditions attached to receipt of benefits, partners of the unemployed.