Senator Robert Ray asked the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Family Services, upon notice, on 16 October 1997:

(1) What qualitative or quantitative research has been undertaken by the Department and its agencies since 3 March 1996.

(2) What was the nature of the research undertaken (sample sizes, questionnaire length, evaluation) and to whom were the results of the research available.

(3) In each instance, which firm or firms have been engaged to undertake this work.

(4) In each instance, what has been the cost of the work undertaken.

Senator Herron —The Minister for Health and Family Services has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1)—(4) To provide a complete answer to this question would require considerable time and resources and I am not prepared to ask my Department to divert them at this time. However, the Department's Annual Report, to be tabled in late October 1997, does include some information on research undertaken by the Department.