HC Deb 07 April 1989 vol 150 cc296-7W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what has delayed the finalisation of his Department's 1989–90 estimates for advertising, publicity and publications;

(2) whether the estimates for his Department's spending on advertising, publicity and publications for 1989–90 have yet been finalised.

Mrs. Rumbold

The estimated expenditure on Departmental advertising, publicity and publications for 1989–90 has now been determined at £2.4 million.

In addition, the Department estimates that expenditure on publications and information concerned with the national curriculum will be about £2–7 million.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the estimated expenditure by his Department on publications, videos, exhibitions etc. in 1988–89 exceeded by £1 million the estimate he gave to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras on 21 July 1988,Official Report, column 744; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

Expenditure in 1988–89 is higher than the original estimate because of the need to give certain of the Department's publications a wide circulation and because of additional publications such as "Our Changing Schools: a handbook for parents". This is an example of a publication giving valuable information for parents which has been very well received. Well over 3 million copies have been distributed.