Written question asked by James Clappison (Conservative) on Wednesday, 17 January 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 January 2001. It was answered by Keith Hill (Labour) on Thursday, 25 January 2001 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list for (a) 1992-93, (b) 1993-94, (c) 1994-95, (d) 1995-96, (e) 1996-97, (f) 1997-98, (g) 1998-99, (h) 1999-2000 and (i) 2000-01, (I) his Department's total spending on quantitative and qualitative surveys of policy issues by focus groups, opinion polling, task forces or other means and (II) the cost of each individual project. - Including fact that information on each project is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Answer: Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for (a) 1992-93, (b) 1993-94, (c) 1994-95, (d) 1995-96, (e) 1996-97, (f) 1997-98, (g) 1998-99, (h) 1999-2000 and (i) 2000-01, (I) his Department's total spending on quantitative and qualitative surveys of policy issues by focus groups, opinion polling, task forces or other means and (II) the cost of each individual project. [146596] Mr. Hill: In line with modernising government principles, my Department actively canvasses outside views on its main policies. Where public opinion research is used it is subject to the usual strict rules that spending must represent good value for money and must not be used for party political purposes. The results of research are made widely available. However, information on each project is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 146596; 361 c675W;361 c677W
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Expenditure Government departments Market research Surveys Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk