HC Deb 02 April 1998 vol 309 cc629-30W
Miss Kirkbride

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent public opinion surveys the Government have carried out into public perceptions of EU membership; what organisation conducted them; how much they cost; how large in each case was the sample size; what was the date of the field work; if he will place a copy of the findings in the Library; and what further surveys he plans to undertake. [25332]

Mr. Doug Henderson

[holding answer 26 January 1998]: We commissioned a survey on attitudes to Europe in November 1997. The contract was won by GGC/NOP following a tender process. The cost was between £20,000 and £30,000. The fieldwork was conducted from 12 to 21 December. The sample size was 1,001 people. A copy of the results have been placed in the libraries of the House. There are at present no plans to repeat the survey, though a repeat is not ruled out.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what expenditure has been incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies(a) in 1996–97 and (b) since 1 May 1997 on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; if he will list the surveys commissioned and the purpose of each; and if he will make a statement. [26660]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

[holding answer 5 February 1998]:

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
£
1996–97 Since 1 May 1997
Opinion polling 1,216,000 326,000 (plus VAT)
Focus groups — —
Other market research 4,5,630,000 —
1 Survey of Canadian attitudes to the UK. For public diplomacy strategy.
2 Survey of Mexican business attitudes to the UK. For export promotion and inward strategy.
3 Survey to get a snapshot of attitudes in the UK towards the EU and current EU issues in the context of the UK's EU Presidency.
4 To assess the coverage and effectiveness of the "UK Today" film series.
5 To assess the coverage and effectiveness of the London Correspondents Service.
6 To assess the UK image in India.

The FCO's agency incurred no expenditure of this type in the periods in question. One FCO NDPB spent £2,056 in 1996–97 and £4,112 (est.) since 1 May 1997 on other market research in the normal course of business.

Mr. Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contracts for public opinion research his Department has awarded since 1 May; if he will indicate the (a) purpose, (b) cost, (c) value and (d) duration of each contract; and which companies (i) bid for and (ii) were awarded each contract. [28875]

Mr. Fatchett

[holding answer 10 February 1998]: We have awarded one contract for public opinion research since 1 May 1997. Its purpose was to survey attitudes in the UK towards the EU and current EU issues in the context of the UK's EU Presidency.

The cost was £26,000 excluding VAT. The results will contribute to the formulation of policy. The contract was for a single round of polling which was carried out between 12 and 21 December 1997.

Four companies were invited to bid for the research: MORI, RSGB (Research Services of Great Britain) GGC/NOP, (Gould, Greenberg, Carville/National Opinion Poll) and BMRB (British Management Research Bureau). The contract was awarded to GGC/NOP.