§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the title of research studies, audits and surveys(a) undertaken and (b) commissioned by his Department for completion in (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000, stating in each case when the results are due to be published. [99629]
§ Dr. HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many research contracts have been let by his Department since May 1997; what is the value of each contract; and in each case whether the contract included(a) a departmental veto over publication of the research results, (b) departmental control over the date of 541W publication of the research results and (c) a requirement that the final research results incorporate departmental amendments. [100153]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 6 December 1999]: Research and Surveys are commissioned by the Analytical Services Division of this Department.
Details of all contracts let as part of the research programme are published in the Department's Research Yearbook; the relevant ones are Yearbooks 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99. Other research studies which have been commissioned (but not yet listed in the yearbook) include:
New Deal for Lone Parents—qualitative follow-up
Secondary analysis of NDLP Phase One—Childcare
BA Staff Attitudes to Security
'ONE' Evaluation
BA Better Government for Older people prototypes
Monitoring Restrictions to Council Tax Benefit
The Changing Role of the Trustee
Evaluation of the Pensions Helpline
Overpayments of HB and CTB
Data and Literature review: ISMI State Provision and Private Insurance
Local Authority Omnibus Survey
Prospects of part-time work: the impact of BTWB.
It is the Department's normal practice to publish all research commissioned as part of its research programme. Publication is governed by standard procedures which mean the research reports are published when they are ready. Contractors are required to submit draft reports on which officials (but not Ministers) provide comments; there is no contractual requirement to include these comments.
542W
Research for DSS Communications Directorate. Research Contracts and their value commissioned by DSS Communication Directorate since May 1997. Value 1997–98 Counter fraud publicity strategy development 49,150 Counter Fraud Tracking research 27,412 Family Credit Advisor Mailing Evaluation 8,906 Lone Parents Omnibus 5,234 Lone Parents Dipstick (Public Opinion) 6,726 Lone Parents Creative Development 9,476 Lone Parents Desk Research 9,729 NDLP Qualitative Research 53,815 Counter Fraud Change of Circumstances 38,587 Counter Fraud Publicity Development 36,319 Winter Fuel Payments Leaflet Omnibus 3,720 Pensions Leaflet Creative Development 20,168 Working Benefits campaign testing of audience reaction 1— Working Benefits test mailshot qualitative research 1— 1998–99 NDLP Strategy Research 41,042 Making Work Pay Pitch Research 37,171 Making Work Pay Tracking Research 65,988 NDLP Pitch Research 41,242 Winter Fuel Payments Pre-Post 38,034 Winter Fuel Leaflet Development 22,731 Pensions Tracking 49,902 NDLP Publicity Evaluation 75,059 Pensioners MIG Pitch Research 66,651 MIG Omnibus 10,316 NDLP Research into mailing 22,006
Research for DSS Communications Directorate. Research Contracts and their value commissioned by DSS Communication Directorate since May 1997. Value 1999–2000 Welfare Reform Strategic Communications 35,908 Winter Fuel Payments Pre-Post 40,972 Internal Communications Desk Research 6,997 Internal Communications Qualitative Research 64,589 1 Not available—It is not possible to separate out the value of these contracts from the overall work undertaken by the contractor. The research projects listed were commissioned to develop and evaluate publicity campaigns or to inform other presentational issues. Reports of this sort of research are not usually published but are made available on request. Officials have an opportunity to see reports in draft form in order to check for factual accuracy of information and quality of presentation of the report.