§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy 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. ParkinsonThe staffing of my Department's press office (including the public inquiry point and support staff) is 11. Staffing levels are presently under review.
§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the latest figure for the estimated spending in 1987–88 by his Department 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.
§ Mr. ParkinsonProvisional figures for expenditure by my Department in 1987–88 in the following areas are:
£ million (a) Television advertising Nil (b) Radio advertising Nil (c) Press advertising, including newspapers 1.85 (d) Other promotional material 1.16 This estimate includes £450,000 in respect of publicity in connection with the collection of the second call on British Gas shares. This sum was excluded from that given in the previous answer on 17 July, at column 647 for the sake of consistency with the figures given in that answer for 1986–87.
Detailed decisions on expenditure for 1988–89 have not yet been taken.
§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the latest figure for the estimated expenditure by his Department on press and public relations for(a) 1987–88 and (b) 1988–89.
§ Mr. ParkinsonThe estimated expenditure for 1987–88 is £359,000.
The figures include:
- (i) forecast expenditure by the press office:
- (ii) staff costs (salaries, accommodation and common services) for all permanent information service and support staff currently in post in the press office, including the public inquiry point.
Staffing levels are currently under review; therefore detailed decisions have not been made for 1988–89.