To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Opinion Leader Research in each year since 1997; and what was (a) the title and purpose, (b) the cost to the public purse and (c) the dates of (i) tender, (ii) award, (iii) operation and (iv) completion and its report to the Department in each case. (165268)

In 1998, DFID commissioned Opinion Leader Research (OLR) to undertake baseline focus group research among the UK public at a cost of £43,000. In 2002, we funded a project with OLR and the BBC, which involved use of focus groups in the UK to analyse public understanding of international news stories at a cost of £38,247. In 2003, DFID commissioned OLR to undertake further focus group research to explore ways of increasing understanding and support for international development in the UK at a cost of £50,309.

No subsequent contracts were awarded to OLR. Specific dates when contracts were tendered, let, carried out and completed are not held centrally, and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.