§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the research commissioned from the People's Panel by his Department; and in each case what was the purpose of the research and what was its cost. [79555]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe People's Panel has been set up to consult the public about how public services are delivered, and to use their ideas to help improve them. The Department has commissioned 2 pieces of research to help us do that:
on the sources of help and advice on careers to young people at school. We wanted to know which were the most important to people, and what they thought could be done to improve the help and advice young people are given about their future careers. This was part of the first survey and was funded by the Cabinet Office who are responsible for setting up the People's Panel;6 focus groups were set up to investigate parent's attitudes towards including value added information in school performance tables, and the format in which they should be provided. The cost of the work was £13,000. It will help us develop measures that are useful to parents.