To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what payments (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have made to Ipsos MORI in the last 24 months; and for what purposes. (193891)

From information held centrally, the core-Department made no payments to Ipsos Mori in financial years 2005-06 and 2006-07. Financial systems record one invoice for £1,210.80 in July 2007 charged to the exhibits and exhibitions account. Additionally, between March and July 2007, Ipsos Mori undertook a survey commissioned from the Central Office of Information (CoI) by DEFRA on the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI) and its communication to schools and local authorities. The cost of this work was £53,500, paid by DEFRA to the CoI.