HC Deb 11 September 2003 vol 410 cc462-3W
Mr. Dodds

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which(a) political parties, (b) other organisations and (c) individuals have been given access to the attitudinal research carried out by (i) Ulster Marketing Services and (ii) Milward Brown Ulster on behalf of the Department. [125315]

Mr. Paul Murphy

Attitudinal research carried out for the Northern Ireland Office by Ulster Marketing Services and Milward Brown Ulster was commissioned for internal use to inform the advice offered to Ministers by officials. The Northern Ireland Office has not given access to political parties or to any individuals or organisations outside Government.

Mr. Dodds

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was paid to(a) Ulster Marketing Services and (b) Milward Brown Ulster by the Department in each year since 1997. [125316]

Mr. Paul Murphy

In relation to total amounts spent by my Department on attitudinal research, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 13 May 2003,Official Report, column 206W. To single out amounts paid to a particular company would constitute a breach of commercial confidence.

Mr. Dodds

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many attitudinal surveys have been carried out by(a) Ulster Marketing Services and (b) Milward Brown Ulster which included research into voting intentions on behalf of the Department in each year since 1997. [125317]

Mr. Paul Murphy

No attitudinal surveys were carried out by Ulster Marketing Services in the years since 1997. One attitudinal survey was carried out by Milward Brown Ulster in 2002 and one in 2003. Research respondents are classified as "adults" rather than "voters".

Mr. Dodds

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the material relating to attitudinal research carried out by(a) Ulster Marketing Services and (b) Milward Brown Ulster on behalf of the Department in each year since 1997. [125318]

Mr. Paul Murphy

The attitudinal research carried out by Ulster Marketing Services and Milward Brown Ulster was commissioned for internal use to inform the advice offered to Ministers by officials. The raw material was not prepared for publication and to do so would involve a disproportionate cost.