Unpublished research reports commissioned by the last administration
Written ministerial statement by Kris Hopkins on unpublished research reports commissioned by the last administration.
The last administration spent £26 million on DCLG research reports that were never published. Throughout this Parliament, we have taken steps to publish this significant backlog of reports. We are publishing a further batch today, representing £9.5 million (excl. VAT) of taxpayers’ money.
The reports and findings do not relate to forthcoming policy announcements. They are not necessarily a reflection of this government’s policies, and should be treated as a statement of the last administration. We are publishing these documents in the interests of transparency.
(i) Enhancing Young People’s Involvement in Regeneration: New Deal for Communities and the Young Advisors Initiative.
This report explores youth engagement and empowerment through a focus on the implementation of the DCLG devised ‘Young Advisors’ initiative which began with a pilot hosted by 4 New Deal for Communities and eventually comprised 43 projects hosted by a variety of organisations. This research was commissioned in 2005 as part of a programme of research on New Deal for Communities. The total cost of the New Deal for Communities research programme was £8,897,113 (excl VAT).
(ii) New Deal for Communities: National Evaluation Phase Two: Technical Report.
This Technical Report provides a wide range of supporting evidence including details of the design of the New Deal for Communities Programme and the national evaluation, data sources, statistical methods, analytical tools and outputs from analyses undertaken as part of New Deal for Communities Evaluation. This research was commissioned in 2005 as part of a programme of research on New Deal for Communities. The total cost of the New Deal for Communities research programme was £8,897,113 (excl VAT).
(iii) Housing Support in the Growth Areas - research report and Excel model guide.
This report considers how the need for housing-related support, funded through the Supporting People programme, is likely to change as the population in the Growth Areas continued to change. The report was commissioned in 2008 at a cost of £60,000, excluding VAT.
(iv) London 2012 Olympics: Regeneration legacy evaluation framework.
This report presents a framework for the department to measure the regeneration impacts and legacy of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. The report was commissioned in 2009 at a cost of £95,780, excluding VAT.
(v) Coalfields regeneration: evaluation framework report.
This monitoring and evaluation framework builds on previous research into coalfield areas. It provides an interim evaluation of the coalfields regeneration programmes in England. The study was commissioned in April 2005 at a cost of £270,517, excluding VAT.
(vi) Timely Information for Citizens Pilots: Evaluation Summary.
This report was commissioned to maximise and disseminate the learning from the ‘Timely Information for Citizens’ pilots. The evaluation aims to provide evidence on the efficiency and effectiveness of the ‘Timely Information for Citizens’ programme; outcomes from the pilots and ‘what works’; and transferable learning. This research was commissioned in 2009 at a cost of £98,150 (excl VAT).
(vii) Working Neighbourhoods Fund Evaluation: feasibility report.
This report builds upon the findings of the Scoping Study which was published in February 2010 and specifies the work that needs to be undertaken to complete an interim evaluation of the Working Neighbourhoods Fund. This report was commissioned in 2008 at a cost of £113,506 (excl VAT).
To help pay off the deficit left by the last administration, this government has sought to deliver better value for money for future research and ensured that sums expended are reasonable in relation to the public policy benefits obtained. My department now has far more rigorous scrutiny and challenge processes for commissioned research. We commission less, and we do it better.
Copies of these reports are attached and are available on the department’s website.