HC Deb 20 July 2001 vol 372 cc462-4W
Mr. Oaten

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the purpose and responsibilities are of the people's panel; for what reasons its future is under review; when the review will be completed; and if he will make a statement. [6238]

Mr. Leslie

The people's panel was set up as a representative sample of the adult population of the UK who agreed to be involved in surveys and other forms of research about their views on, and attitudes to, public services and similar matters of public interest.

The individuals who comprise the panel are under no obligation to participate in surveys or other studies, and have no responsibilities.

We have long been committed to evaluation of the panel, as a new initiative, and a small-scale evaluation was conducted last year. The current review will consider its continuing technical viability, its impact on policy formation, usage by Government Departments, and cost-effectiveness. It will be completed in autumn 2001.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2001,Official Report, column 124W, if he will list the title, cost and client for each of the projects included in the expenditure totals already given. [6234]

Mr. Leslie

Details of the title, cost and clients for each of the projects mentioned in my response of 3 July are set out in the tables.

Year 1998–99
Client/title Cost (£)
Cabinet Office
Wave 1 (also includes £80,000 for set-up costs) 300,000
Wave 2 89,000
Modernising Government 12,750
Management fee to MORI 8,000
Top-up recruitment 49,250
Total 459,000

Year 1999–2000
Client/title Cost {£)
Cabinet Office
Wave 3 6,000
Women's Unit—Listening to Women 63,800
Access pages 13,800
Older people 4,500
Management fee to MORI 40,000
Top-up recruitment 49,250
Evaluation report 17,690
OST
Attitudes to bio-sciences 60,000
DfEE
Parents' attitudes on value-added school performance tables 12,400
The literacy hour 2,500
DETR
Urban White Paper 19,500
HSE
Gas safety regulation 14,750
Post Office Counter
One-stop shops/electronic service delivery 17,000
Total 321,190

Year 2000–01
Client/title Cost (£)
Cabinet Office
Open All Hours? 14,400
Change of address portal 14,200
Wave 4 68,600
Public services and ethnic minorities 68,100
Public awareness of Charter Mark 6,000
Social Exclusion Unit—Attitudes to public services in deprived areas 14,100
Wave 5 64,400
The last 12 months 52,550
Management fee to MORI 36,000
Department of Health
Attitudes towards Human Genetics issues 52,500
Health messages and young people 30,000
The Patent Office
Benchmarking of intellectual property awareness 14,500
DfEE
Service standards in working agency 10,600
DETR
Research into public's expectations of transport in the future 29,050
MAFF
Reactions to new GM food leaflet 19,200
Country of origin food labelling 31,665
Total 525,865

Summaries of the research results have been placed in the House Library and full reports are published on my Department's website.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2001,Official Report, column 124W, if the results of projects carried out for clients other than his own Department were published in full. [6235]

Mr. Leslie

The summaries of all research projects using the people's panel have been placed in the House Library. Full reports are available on the Internet at www.servicefirst.gov.uk.

Forward to