§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of total expenditure by his Department on(a) focus groups and (b) opinion polls in each year from 1995–96 to 2003–04; and if he will make a statement.[162756]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyIn relation to the expenditure of the Northern Ireland Office on attitudinal research between 1997 and 2003, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary, on 13 May 2003,Official Report, column 206W. Expenditure in 1995–96 was £11,750. Overall expenditure on attitudinal research for the financial year 2003–04 is not yet available, although £27,480 + vat has been identified to date.
Within the Northern Ireland administration this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.