Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Minister or official authorised the Rapid Response Unit to collect of data related to public statements, social media and internet activity as part of that unit's work.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Rapid Response Unit was launched, initially as a six-month pilot in April 2018; its formation having received approval at Ministerial level in January 2018. During the pandemic, the Cabinet Office expanded the team to monitor disinformation about Covid. The Rapid Response Unit used only publicly available data, including material shared on social media platforms, to assess UK disinformation trends and narratives.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 April 2022 to Question 153746, on Coronavirus: Surveys, if he will publish the timetable for sharing information on polling commissioned by the Government at the start of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Cabinet Office is working with suppliers to finalise campaign evaluation reports. This is a complex process given the amount of data generated during the Covid-19 pandemic and we want to avoid any misleading publication of findings. We aim to begin publishing reports by the end of the year.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 September 2021 to Question 45797, on Coronavirus: Surveys, if he will publish information on polling commissioned by the Government at the start of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nigel Adams
COVID-19 polling was conducted to help develop and drive the optimisation of campaign messaging. This enabled the maximum effectiveness of messaging and ensured vital public health information reached as many people as possible.
Due to the unprecedented scope of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, polling was conducted regularly for approximately two years. This represents a significant volume of information that requires review.
The Cabinet Office is committed to conducting a review of the polling information that it holds. A timetable for sharing the appropriate information will be released by Spring 2022.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government on public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 14 February 2020.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQ45797 on 14 September 2021.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government on public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 13 February 2020.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQ45797 on 14 September 2021.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government on public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 12 February 2020.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQ45797 on 14 September 2021.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government on public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 11 February 2020.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQ45797 on 14 September 2021.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government on public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 10 February 2020.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQ45797 on 14 September 2021.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government related to public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 9 February 2020.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQs 186126-186130 on 29 April 2021.
Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Government to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.
The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether polling by the Government related to public opinion on covid-19 was conducted on 8 February 2020.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to PQs 186126-186130 on 29 April 2021.
Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Government to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.
The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.