Mr. DonohueTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the employment of polling or public survey organisations by his Department during the current and previous financial years, on the organisations employed by his Department, on the values of individual contracts for these services, on the total amounts of money spent and on the purposes of the research undertaken by these organisations. [14514]
§ Mr. HowardThe polling and public survey organisations employed by the Home Department since 1 April 1993 are in the following list, together with the purpose of research undertaken by those organisations. The fee paid to successful contractors is not shown as this is regarded by the Central Statistical Office as a matter of commercial confidentiality. The total amount of money spent was £661,000.
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Organisation Purpose of Research 1. Carrick James Cycle helmets Fieldwork: April 1993 Purpose: Survey of young people between the ages of 10–16 years in Great Britain regarding cycle riding, cycle helmet wearing and advertising recall. 2. Cragg Ross Dawson Specials Creative and Development Research Fieldwork: April 1993 Purpose: Reactions for new advertising campaign on the views of Specials. 3. Harris Research Centre Eleven discussion groups plus an interview survey of 1,200 women and ethnic minorities in England, Scotland and Wales. Fieldwork: June—July 1993 Purpose: To explore reasons why potentially eligible women and members of ethnic minority groups might wish or not wish to apply for work as firefighters. 4. Sample Surveys Car Crime Advertising Fieldwork: September 1993 Purpose: To examine recall of car crime campaign and changing attitudes to car crime. 5. GFK Marketing Smoke Alarms Home Audit Services September 1993 Fieldwork: Purpose: To measure smoke alarm ownership and maintenance procedures. 6. OPCS Omnibus Survey questions on public experiences of and attitudes towards the police. 2,000 adults in England and Wales. Fieldwork: October 1993 Purpose: To assess public response to the police service Quality of Service Programme. 7. BMBR Special Constables Recruitment advertising research Fieldwork: November 1993 Purpose: To examine awareness of the attitudes towards Special Constabulary, including recent recruitment advertising. 8. Research Surveys of Great Britain Witness intimidation: Strategies for prevention Fieldwork: November—December Purpose: 1993 One public survey was carried out by Research Surveys of Great Britain to obtain information on people's experience of intimidation. (Another survey was done by Home Office Staff). 14W
Organisation Purpose of Research 9. BMRB Smoke Alarms Post Advertising Research Fieldwork: January 1994 Purpose: Survey of adults in England and Wales regarding smoke alarm ownership and maintenance carried out on them. 10. Reflexions Market Special Creative Research Ltd. Development Fieldwork: February 1994 Purpose: A survey of a number of adults in England asking the opinions of new advertising executions for the specials; including perceived target audience, communication, motivation potential (to joining the specials), style and tone of voice of advertising. 11. BMBR Smoke Alarms Fieldwork: February 1994 Purpose: Post advertising campaign survey to measure fire precautions in general. 12. BMRB Specials Advertising Fieldwork: Evaluation Purpose: March 1994 Awareness of advertising, knowledge, awareness of specials. 13. BMRB International Commercial Fieldwork: Crime Survey Purpose: March—April 1994 Information gathered will help development of national and local government strategies for crime prevention. All Businesses could benefit; reduction in crime should also benefit customers. 14. SCPR Survey of offenders on probation. Fieldwork: Purpose: April 1994 The survey aimed to give a picture of the types of offender on probation and to provide quantitative information on the workings of the probation service. 15. NOP Assessing the expandable side-handled baton Fieldwork: May 1994 Cost: £3,888 Purpose: Part of a project to assess the merits of expandable side handled batons involved a face-to-face survey to assess the attitudes of the public towards the acceptability of the new baton.
Organisation Purpose of Research 16. Tim Grosvenor Associates Fifteen discussion groups amongst residents of five areas currently served by 'Parish Special Constables.' Fieldwork: May—June 1994 Purpose: To assess public reactions to the Parish Special Constables initiative. 17. NOP Partners against Crime Campaign Fieldwork: September—October 1994 Purpose: To assess level of support for local community crime prevention and Neighbourhood Watch 18. Public Attitude Surveys Ltd. Immigration and Nationality User Survey Fieldwork: October 1994 Purpose: People in the Granada TV region were surveyed on the qualitative survey of applicants and representatives to establish the most important quality of service aspects from a users prospective. Concentrates on issues such as provision of information, speed of response, clarity of correspondence, etc. if not concerned with users' perception of the decision. 19. OPCS Census of mothers in prison Fieldwork: November—December 1994 Purpose: A survey of imprisoned mothers to determine their numbers, and arrangements for the care of their children. 20. SCPR Survey of 500 persons living in the London area and currently eligible to apply for United Kingdom citizenship. Applicants and non-applicants questioned about their reasons for applying/not applying. Fieldwork: February—April 1995 Purpose: To assist workload planning by B4 Division of Immigration and Nationality Department. 21. RSGB Omnibus Survey questions on attitudes to gambling and casinos. Fieldwork: February 1995 Cost: £3,000 Purpose: To provide background information for a review of current policy on gambling.