Publicity

HC Deb 17 December 1987 vol 124 cc710-1W

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest figure for the number of staff presently employed in the press and public relations office of his Department; and what is the number planned to be employed at this point in 1988.

Mr. Moore

My Department has no section which can be separately identified as public relations. Functions commonly associated with public relations and those of the press office are carried out by information officers as part of their duties in the Department's information division.

On 1 December 1987 the information division employed 68 permanent staff of whom 29 were information officers.

Anticipated figures for permanent staff in 1988 are identical.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest figure for the number of staff presently employed in the press and public relations office of the Health Education Authority; and what is the number planned to be employed at this point in 1988.

Mrs. Currie

The section of the Health Education Authority's public affairs division responsible for advertising, promotions and press relations has an establishment of 11. Seven of the posts are currently filled and I understand that the remaining posts are expected to be filled over the next few months.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest figure for the estimated spending in 1987–88 by the Health Education Authority on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material; and what are the estimated expenditures in each area for 1988–89.

Mrs. Currie

The information is as follows:

	£
Television	2,650,000
Radio
Newspaper	865,000
Posters and other promotional material	656,500

The authority is presently considering its use of media for 1988–89.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest figure for the estimated expenditure by the Health Education Authority on press and public relations for(a) 1987–88 and (b) 1988–89.

Mrs. Currie

The Health Education Authority plans to spend about £5.1 million on publicity and promotional activity in 1987–88, including £3 million on AIDS public education. The operational plans for 1988–89 are presently under consideration but the authority expects to spend at least this amount in 1988–89.