HC Deb 19 November 1986 vol 105 cc194-5W
Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the total spending of his Department on press and public relations in the current year; and what it was in 1979–80 and each intervening year.

Mrs. Rumbold

Total spending, including staff costs, on press and public relations by the Department of Education and Science for previous years and estimated for the current year are as follows:

£
1984–85 788,834
1985–86 1,026,341
1986–87 1,048,348

Total spending figures for earlier years are not available on a comparable basis.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the estimated spending by his Department on television, radio and newspaper advertising, respectively, and other promotional literature in the current year; and what was the total in 1979–80 and each intervening year.

Mrs. Rumbold

Estimated spending on advertising and other promotional literature for the current financial year is as follows:

£
Newspapers 185,000
Television
Radio
Other promotional literature 370,000

Figures for 1979–80 to 1985–86 are as follows:

TV and radio Press Other promotional literature
£ £ £
1979–80 91,600 12,200
1980–81 8,924 58,303
1981–82 86,952 49,900
1982–83 5,998 33,700
1983–84 9,570 74,931
1984–85 18,544 150,603
1985–86 14,804 184,121

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many press and public relations staff are employed in his Department; and how many were employed in 1979–80 and each intervening year.

Mrs. Rumbold

The approved complement of the Department's information division is currently 36. This figure includes support staff. The complement for the 1979–80 and each intervening year was:

Number
1979–80 40
1980–81 40
1981–82 37
1982–83 37
1983–84 37
1984–85 36
1985–86 36