To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008, Official Report, column 1069W, on departmental research, whether any projects have been commissioned using his Department’s Joint Research Budget since the date of that Answer. (263385)

[holding answer 13 March 2009]: The Department has commissioned three projects:

(i) University of London’s EPPI-centre and Matrix Knowledge Group have been appointed to conduct research on participation in culture and sport. The research will draw together current evidence to address fundamental questions for public policy development in this area: what drives engagement and how do we understand and maximise the value and benefits it brings. It will report in winter 2009-10.

(ii) Identifying and exploring options for developing a comprehensive national cultural and sporting assets database, building on active places http://www.activeplaces.co.uk/ and related datasets to look at supply across DCMS sectors. The scoping exercise will also explore the definition of a cultural and sporting asset. Contractors BOP Consulting will report in spring 2009.

(iii) Understanding regional evidence needs. With the advent of Integrated Regional Strategies, and the wind up of the Regional Cultural Consortiums. BMG have been commissioned to identify and appraise options for meeting research and evidence needs shared by the four agencies at regional level, ensuring that common research questions can be addressed consistently within a national framework. The work should propose a number of different models to achieve this. It will report in June 2009.

We are also working with the Economic and Social Research Council to place culture and sports engagement questions in Understanding Society:

http://www.understandingsociety.org.uk/

the new household longitudinal study. This will deliver initial data in 2011.