To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what opinion polls the Department has conducted of (a) the public and (b) staff since 27 June 2007; and what the (i) name of the firm employed to conduct the poll, (ii) purpose and (iii) cost to the public purse was in each case. (164957)

The Department has conducted one major survey since 27 June 2007. This took the form of a Customer Perception Tracking Survey of the public in July and August 2007. The survey is being run by BMG Research Ltd. The purpose is to track perceptions and awareness of developments in education and children’s services among key stakeholder groups. This was wave 2 of a three-year tracking study. The sample of the public is designed to be broadly representative of the general public, and as such, includes parents, whose views are analysed in comparison with non-parents where relevant. The Department intends to publish the outcomes at the end of the study in summer 2009. The cost of this interim wave was £14,000 excluding VAT.

The Department has not conducted any opinion polls or surveys of staff since 27 June 2007.