HC Deb 05 November 1991 vol 198 cc15-6W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total expenditure by the Nature Conservancy Council on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93;

(2) if he will give separate figures for spending by the Nature Conservancy Council on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

Mr. Heseltine

I have asked the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material;

(2) if he will give separate figures for spending by the Ordnance Survey on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93;

(3) what was the total expenditure by the Ordnance Survey on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.

Mr. Heseltine

I will ask the Director General of Ordnance Survey to reply to the hon. Member on behalf of his organisation.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by(a) the Department of the Environment, (b) Ordnance Survey, (c) the Nature Conservancy Council and (d) the Countryside Commission during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each (i) the topic, (ii) the commencement date, (iii) the duration and (iv) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

Mr. Heseltine

My Department has carried out no television advertising during 1991–92 and has no plans to do so.

I gave the hon. Member information regarding my Department's expenditure on publicity campaigns costing more than £100,000 on 1 July 1991. The advertising company Collett, Dickenson, Pearce and Partners has been selected to undertake strategic and creative work for the joint campaign with the Department of Energy to promote home energy efficiency. The public relations firm Maxima has been selected to carry out promotional work for the campaign. The campaign begins today and is intended to run for at least three years.

I will ask the Director General of Ordnance Survey and the chairmen of the Nature Conservancy Council and the Countryside Commission to write to the hon. Member replying for their organisations.

Mr. Frank Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

Mr. Heseltine

In May 1989, deliveries of a leaflet explaining the community charge were made to 19 million households in England. In January 1990, my Department sent leaflets to 1.6 million businesses giving details of the new business rate. In February 1991, a leaflet explaining the dangers of radon in houses and inviting householders to take advantage of free radon testing was delivered to 660,000 households in Devon and Cornwall.

From time to time, samples of the Department's publications are sent directly to interested bodies for information.