§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use he and his Department has made of focus group research since June 2001; if he will identify for each research project the topics covered, the person or organisation carrying out the research, and the total cost; and if he will publish the research on his Department's website. [74999]
§ Dr. MoonieFocus group research is undertaken by various organisations and agencies of the Ministry of Defence. Information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, the Directorate General of Corporate Communications (DGCC) carries out corporate research on behalf of the Department as a whole. Since June 2001 DGCC has let two focus group research contracts: one with Colquhoun Associates to better understand the public reaction to the events of 11 September 2001 as part of our work on the New Chapter to the Strategic Defence Review; and the other conducted by internal staff supported by Independent Field Work Company to look into the public image of the MOD.
I am withholding the value of each of these contracts as the information is protected in accordance with Exemption 13 [third party's commercial confidences] of the Code of Practice on access to Government information. However the total cost of the two contacts was around £34,000 including VAT. Focus Group research is an important management tool, and we do not routinely publish the reports on the MOD website. However we consider all requests for disclosure on a case by case basis.