§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) full-time equivalents were employed by her press office and (b) secondees were placed in the press office in the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [64583]
§ Ms HewittThe number of press officers was as follows:
As at 1 January Press officers 1998 17 1999 24 2000 25 2001 23 2002 23 There have been a number of short-term loans to the press office from other Government Departments and agencies, but none over this period from the private sector or non-Government bodies. We do not keep records of the number of loans from Government bodies to the press office.