§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [26681]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The Government are committed to consulting and involving the public in order to help inform both policy formulation and the delivery of quality public services, and to ensure that we receive the best value for money from our publicity spend.
Details of expenditure incurred by the Department, through the Central Office of Information, on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research are shown in the following table.
Information about market research commissioned by the Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally.
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Description of research contract Date Type Value (£) (a) 1996-97 Free your potential campaign development research June 1996 Qualitative 10,667 Primary school performance tables development research July 1996 Qualitative 5,441 Free your potential creative development research July 1996 Qualitative 10,667 Jobcentres campaign development research August 1996 Qualitative 18,812 Nursery voucher scheme campaign creative development research September 1996 Qualitative 14,359 Adult learners week awareness research September 1996 Quantitative 19,139 Career development loans campaign evaluation research September 1996 Quantitative 26,579 Disability Discrimination Act consultation research September 1996 Qualitative 19,799 National traineeships development research September 1996 Qualitative 22,173 Nursery voucher scheme pre-campaign evaluation research October 1996 Quantitative 51,148 1996 Secondary schools performance tables pre- and post-campaign evaluation research November 1996/ January 1997 Quantitative 52,617 Assisted places scheme creative development research November 1996 Qualitative 4,818 Grant-maintained schools tracking research November 1996 Quantitative 9,272 Nursery voucher scheme tracking research among parents November 1996 Quantitative 15,064 Nursery voucher scheme providers' pack survey November 1996 Quantitative 17,354 Analysis of response to action special broadcasting initiative November 1996 Quantitative 9,248 Nursery voucher scheme information line research December 1996 Quantitative 19,176 National traineeships development research December 1996 Qualitative 19,905 Nursery vouchers scheme tracking research among parents February 1997 Quantitative 17,061 Nursery voucher scheme research among non registered providers February 1997 Quantitative 11,186 Research into the information needs of parents with school age children February 1997 Qualitative 5,510 Disability discrimination act tracking research among employers February 1997 Quantitative 30,351 Primary school performance tables pre-campaign evaluation research February/March 1997 Quantitative 32,148 Evaluation of Schools Update Newsletter March 1997 Qualitative 5,946 Nursery vouchers scheme post-campaign evaluation research March 1997 Quantitative 22,000 Career development loans creative development research March 1997 Qualitative 21,720 Disability booklet development research March 1997 Qualitative 18,037 Career development loans response campaign March 1997 Quantitative 14,247 (b) Since 1 May 1997 Evaluation of Schools Update Newsletter May/June 1997 Qualitative 22,407 Research into design and content of the national record of achievement June 1997 Qualitative 35,720 Analysis of the responses to the Excellence in schools white paper consultation July 1997 Quantitative 31,150 Secondary schools performance tables development research September/ November 1997 Desk Research 4,460 Research into jobcentre corporate identity September 1997 Desk Research 4,200 Research into new jobcentre corporate identity September 1997 Qualitative 43,908 Learning entitlement development research October 1997 Qualitative 13,137 Research to explore the reactions of unemployed and jobcentre staff and managers to the new deal November 1997 Qualitative 43,152 Research to explore reactions to the new deal among partners November 1997 Qualitative 21,004 Student support advertising campaign awareness December 1997 Quantitative 15,969 Research among students and employers to the Government's proposals for 16–19 qualifications December 1997 Qualitative 32,736 Employment service values staff survey December 1997 Data Processing 13,484 Career development loans direct mail research December 1997 Qualitative 16,650 New deal campaign development research December 1997 Qualitative 26,003 Analysis of the responses to the consultation on the Government's proposals for 16–19 qualifications January 1998 Quantitative 27,262 Research among mature students to the Government's proposed changes to tuition fees January 1998 Quantitative 9,336 Research into levels of awareness of the national training organisations among employers, partners, and TECs January 1998 Qualitative 19,693 New deal leaflet creative development research January 1998 Qualitative 20,898 Careers service corporate identity research January 1998 Qualitative 17,590 DfEE Website evaluation February/March 1998 Qualitative 37,530 Disability discrimination act small employers consultation analysis February/March 1998 Quantitative 19,881 Disability discrimination act creative development research February 1998 Qualitative 14,335 Disability discrimination act research among general public February 1998 Quantitative 17,202 Research among potential target audience into perceived need for individual learning accounts February 1998 Qualitative 17,496 National traineeships creative development research February 1998 Qualitative 14,300 Disability discrimination act information line research March 1998 Quantitative 16,685 Careers service publications research March 1998 Qualitative 34,463 Career development loans campaign response research March 1998 Quantitative 12,500 Career development loans awareness research March 1998 Quantitative 12,500