Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on (a) focus groups and (b) surveys in (i) 2013 and (ii) 2014 to date.

The Department spent on surveys:

i. 2013: £9,482,924

ii. 2014 to date: £10,033,878

This includes high profile, internationally recognised surveys such as the Family Resources Survey, English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, the Labour Force Survey and the Wealth and Assets Survey.

Please note

· That the figures for 2014 to date are estimates based on planned research spend;

· the survey spend is made up of “regular” surveys as there may also be research that we carry out that includes some surveying not within this cost; and

· The figures for focus group are not consolidated and only available at disproportionate cost.