To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which occasions her Department has convened a citizens' jury or randomly drawn panel of people to aid the Department's policy making since 2000; whether the participants were paid in each case; and if she will make a statement. (243039)

Since 2000 the Home Office has convened citizens' juries to inform two policy areas, both within the financial year 2007-08. One was a public consultation on crime, the other a series of public debates held across the country for UKBA. In each case participants were paid to attend.

The Department recognises the important contribution that the public can make in developing policy and carries out a wide range of activities in addition to citizens' juries which allow Ministers and officials to listen to and understand the views of the public and stakeholders in developing policy.

With regards to use of panels specifically: we are unable to separate out and identify the different research projects where panels may have been used for recruitment purposes.