§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) opinion polls and (b) other attitudinal research surveys have been carried out by the Northern Ireland Office since March. [115986]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyNo opinion polls or other attitudinal research surveys have been carried out by the Northern Ireland Office since March.
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by each Northern Ireland Department on opinion polls and attitudinal research in each year since 1997. [115987]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyI refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, on 13 May 2003,Official Report, column 206W. A further breakdown by Department could be prepared only at a disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which organisations were contracted to carry out(a) opinion polling and (b) research into the attitudes of voters in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997; and how much they were paid in each case. [115988]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyOrganisations which carried out attitudinal research for the Northern Ireland Office are Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, the Northern Ireland Information Service, Ulster Marketing Services and Milward Brown Ulster.
In relation to the costs for each year since 1997, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, on 13 May 2003, Official Report, column 206W. To breakdown the costs in greater detail would involve disproportionate cost.
As stated by my hon. Friend, research respondents are classified as "adults" rather than "voters".
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on attitudinal research in each year between 1990 and 1997 by the Northern Ireland Office. [115989]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyWithin the Northern Ireland Office in each year between 1992 and 1997 the following was spent on attitudinal research. Information on costs prior to financial year 1992–93 is not available.
596W
£ Cost 1992–93 13,212 1993–94 6,667 1994–95 6,933 1995–96 11,750 1996–97 17,377
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the material relating to attitudinal research paid for by the Northern Ireland Office in each year since 1997. [115990]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyAttitudinal research carried out by the Northern Ireland Office Statistics and Research Branch is routinely published in report or bulletin format. Publication is via the Northern Ireland Office Information Service and reports are also made available on the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency websites. This includes all research carried out by the Northern Ireland Office Statistics and Research Branch on behalf of the Criminal Justice Review. This approach is in keeping with National Statistics guidelines.
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which(a) political parties, (b) organisations, (c) individuals and (d) other Governments have been given access to the results of the attitudinal research carried out by the Northern Ireland Office in each year since 1997. [115991]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyAttitudinal research carried out by the Northern Ireland Office Statistics and Research Branch is routinely published via the Northern Ireland Office Information Service and is also made available on the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency websites. Access is therefore not restricted in any way. Pre-publication access is granted only for internal briefing purposes and in accordance with strict National Statistics guidelines. These guidelines promote equality of access but recognise the policy of having some privileged early access to support good Government and management. The Northern Ireland Office Statistics and Research Branch also widely disseminates hard copies of its research and statistical findings to groups and individuals with policy and professional interests. Each report is publicised as widely as possible through the media and routinely circulated to political parties, academics and libraries, including the Northern Ireland Assembly and House of Common Libraries. Free copies are available on request.