§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1990–91 and budget for 1991–92.
§ Mr. Scott[holding answer 30 April 1991]: The Department has no separate public relations section. Functions commonly associated with public relations are carried out by information officers as part of their duties in the Department's information division.
I refer the hon. Member to the replies, given to him on 19 November 1986 at column 794, on 4 November 1987 at columns 785–87, on 14 January 1988 at column 402, on 13 March 1989 at columns 30–31, for information for 1979–80 to 1989–90.
Estimated total expenditure by the information division in 1990–91 is as follows:
£ million Publicity 12.843 Staff 1.354 Running costs 0.603 The 1991–92 budgets for the information division in the Department of Social Security headquarters and the Benefits Agency are as follows.
£ million DSSHQ Benefits agency Publicity 12.992 8.70 Staff 0.658 0.54 Running costs 0.550 0.05