HC Deb 05 March 1998 vol 307 cc763-5W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 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. [26578]

Mr. Kilfoyle

[holding answer 5 February 1998] For this answer my Department includes the Prime Minister's Office and the Central Office of Information.

My Department's agencies and NDPBs' expenditure in (a) the financial year 1996–97 and (b) since 1 May 1997 to date on (i) opinion polling; (ii) focus groups; and

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his estimate of the(a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) his agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has responsibility, in (A) 1995–96, (B) 1996–97, (C) 1997–98 to date and (D) 1997–98 full year. [26581]

Mr. Kilfoyle

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: For this purpose the Cabinet Office includes the Prime Minister's Office and the Office of Public Service and its executive agencies. The figures requested are shown.

(iii) other forms of market research and a list of surveys is set out below: (a)

  1. (i) None
  2. (ii) None
  3. (iii) £130,256.

The surveys at (iii) were:

a customer survey commissioned by the Buying Agency to assist in the development of their marketing plan;

field work for follow—up research on complaints handling in public services;

a pre—campaign awareness survey of the Charter Mark in the Public Sector; and

a survey assessing the effectiveness of Charter Mark promotion and awareness among public service organisations. (b)

  1. (i) one
  2. (ii) £26,304
  3. (iii) £282,745.

The surveys at (ii) were:

a series of seminars aimed at improving the delivery of public services;

2 forums for schools to find out schoolchildren's opinions on public services, and public service practitioners to discuss general public service issues;

an older people's forum to discuss public services, identify key areas of concern, and the ways in which new technology could be used to deliver services to older people.

The surveys at (iii) were:

market research on the public's and small businesses' attitudes to the electronic delivery of government services;

an evaluation of the effectiveness of Charter Mark in improving public services;

follow—up research on complaints handling in public services;

market research to establish the requirement for a Corporate Development and Training Centre for the Civil Service; and

a survey to assess customer perception and future expectations for Government Car Service services.

Mr. Duncan

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 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. [28877]

2. Mr. Kilfoyle

[holding answer 10 February 1998]: For this answer my Department includes the Prime Minister's Office, the Minister without Portfolio's Office, and the Central Office of Information.

Since 1 May my Department has awarded two public opinion research contracts. The information requested is as follows:

(a) a contract to assess the extent to which citizens and small business in the UK would use electronically delivered public services;

(b) £440,000;

(c) the contract will identify those elements of electronic service delivery that would be/would not be used by the public—the contract will make a valuable contribution to the "Better Government" White Paper;

(d) 10 months from October 1997

(i) Kable Ltd.; MORI; and BMRB International

(ii) BMRB International.

(a) a framework agreement to facilitate consultation with members of the public about the delivery of public services;

(b) the cost depends on how much the framework agreement is used over its life—it is anticipated that the total cost will exceed £100,000;

(c) the contracts made under the framework will identify areas where the quality of public services can he improved;

(d) three years

(i) BMRB and the Policy Studies Institute

MORI and

the School of Public Policy at Birmingham University the National Consumer Council

the Office for National Statistics and the City University Business School

PPCR Associates, Independent Data Analysis Ltd.. the New Fieldwork Company and the University of North London

Research Services Ltd.

SCPR and Opinion Leader Research

Taylor Nelson AGB, Cragg Ross Dawson and the University of Essex

(ii) MORI and the School of Public Policy at Birmingham University.

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