To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by his Department on (a) opinion polling, (b) focus groups and (c) other forms of market research in each of the last five years; what surveys were commissioned; and what the purpose was of each such survey. (325491)

The requested information is as follows:

2005-06

Opinion polling—£340,317

Focus groups—£27,480

Other market research—£0

Surveys commissioned and the purpose of each:

Northern Ireland Information Service Poll—to gauge public view on the political process;

Commissioned questions for NI Omnibus survey—to obtain public perception of Public Prosecution Service which in turn assists in the development of policy;

NI Crime Survey—to ascertain people’s experience and perceptions of crime in N.I;

NI Omnibus Survey—Recovery of Assets Module—to ascertain people’s awareness of Assets Recovery Agency and perceptions of its effectiveness;

NI Omnibus Survey—Confidence in the Criminal Justice System Module—to assess people’s confidence of the Criminal Justice System;

NI Omnibus Survey—Confidence in Police Module—to assess people’s confidence of the police; and

NI Omnibus Survey—Sexual Violence Module—perceptions and assessment of sexual violence in NI.

2006-07

Opinion polling—£399,328

Focus groups—£0

Other market research—£0

Surveys commissioned and the purpose of each:

Northern Ireland Information Service Poll—to gauge public view on the political process;

Commissioned questions for NI Omnibus survey—to obtain public perception of Public Prosecution Service which in turn assists in the development of policy;

NI Crime Survey—to ascertain people’s experience and perceptions of crime in NI;

NI Omnibus Survey—Organised Crime Module—to ascertain people’s experience and perceptions of Organised Crime;

NI Omnibus Survey—Recovery of Assets Module—to ascertain people’s awareness of Assets Recovery Agency and perceptions of its effectiveness;

Compensation Agency Applicants’ Attitudes Survey; and

Public Attitudes towards Sex Offenders.

2007-08

Opinion polling—£397,145

Focus groups—£1,828

Other market research—£7,370

Surveys commissioned and the purpose of each:

Northern Ireland Information Service Poll—to gauge public view on the political process;

Commissioned questions for NI Omnibus survey—to obtain public perception of Public Prosecution Service which in turn assists in the development of policy;

NI Crime Survey—to ascertain people’s experience and perceptions of crime in NI;

NI Omnibus Survey—Organised Crime Module—to ascertain people’s experience and perceptions of Organised Crime;

NI Omnibus Survey—Recovery of Assets Module—to ascertain people’s awareness of Assets Recovery Agency and perceptions of its effectiveness;

NI Omnibus Survey —Youth Justice Agency module—to ascertain people’s awareness of the Youth Justice Agency and perceptions of its effectiveness; and

Evaluation of OCTF Christmas Counterfeit goods campaign.

2008-09

Opinion polling—£46,069

Focus groups—£0

Other market research—£9,897

Surveys Commissioned and the purpose of each:

Northern Ireland Information Service Poll—to gauge public view on the political process;

Commissioned questions for NI Omnibus survey—to obtain public perception of Public Prosecution Service which in turn assists in the development of policy;

Customer Satisfaction Survey—to analyse the performance of the compensation Agency;

Access NI—Customer Attitudes Survey; and

Evaluation of OCTF Christmas Counterfeit goods campaign.

2009-10

Opinion polling—£37,145

Focus groups—£0

Other market research—£6,539

Surveys commissioned and the purpose of each:

Access NI—Customer Attitudes Survey;

Evaluation of OCTF Christmas Counterfeit goods campaign;

To gauge public opinion on the political process (May 2009); and

To gauge public opinion on the political process (March 2010).

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what direction his Department gives to its contractors on the framing of questions in surveys it commissions. (325436)

Polling questions are agreed in consultation between the Department and the contractor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in respect of how many surveys commissioned by his Department in 2010 the (a) results and (b) supporting data have been published in full. (325437)

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has not commissioned any surveys in 2010 where the (a) results and (b) supporting data have been published in full.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what opinion surveys were commissioned by his Department in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 to date; and what company was commissioned to undertake each. (325447)

The requested information is as follows: