HC Deb 28 March 1995 vol 257 cc535-6W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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 organizations.

Mr. Redwood

[holding answer 20 March 1995]: The information requested is as follows: Beaufort Research Ltd., contracted by Welsh Office 1993–94 Cost: £1,292.50—collection of data for inclusion in 1993 "Digest of Welsh Statistics". Research and Marketing Ltd., contracted by Welsh Office 1993–94 Cost: £72,000'—to undertake the 1992 Welsh Social Survey. Niace Cymru, contracted by Welsh Office 1993–94 Cost: £5,000—study of adult learning routes in Taff Ely district, Mid Glamorgan. ERES/Beaufort Research Ltd., contracted by Welsh Office 1993–94 Cost: £39,921—examined the nature of higher than average levels of economic inactivity in Wales. Durdle Davies Business Research, contracted by Welsh Office February 1994 Cost: £5,000—measured public awareness of the 1991 patients charter for Wales and sought views on how the 1994 edition could be improved. Development Unit Community Health Councils Wales, contracted by Welsh Office January 1995 Cost: £5,000—measured public impressions of the 1994 patients charter for Wales and sought views on frequency of updating and communicating contents. Beaufort Research Ltd., contracted by Welsh Office 1994–95 Cost: £1,292.50—collection of data for inclusion in 1994 "Digest of Welsh Statistics". Office of Population Census and Surveys, contracted by Welsh Office 1994–95 Cost: £149,0002—extension of labour force survey to provide data at TEC level on progress of national targets for education and training. Beaufort Research Ltd., contracted by Cadw 1993–94 Cost: £11,392 Cadw visitor survey—the third year of a three year project. Hall Harrison Cowley, contracted by Cadw 1994–95 Cost: £8,800 Cadw visitor profile research—the purpose of both contracts was to establish more information about the requirements of visitors to Cadw monuments.

Surveys are also undertaken as part of the Department's value-for-money evaluation of publicity campaigns. The following evaluation studies have been undertaken since 1 April 1993: Beaufort Research Ltd., contracted by Central Office of Information 24–26 November 1994 Cost: £6,991—measured the effectiveness of the parents charter booklet in Wales. Beaufort Research Ltd., contracted by Central Office of Information 14 February 1994–30 March 1995 Cost: £12,700—measured the effectiveness of Welsh and English language road safety advertising on bus backs in Wales. 1The total cost of employing Research and Marketing Ltd. was £375,000 but £303,000 was invoiced in the 1992–93 financial year. The Welsh training and enterprise councils made a financial contribution. 2Welsh training and enterprise councils and the Welsh Development Agency contributed £35,100.