HC Deb 31 March 1995 vol 257 cc840-1W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidelines his Department has issued to its agencies and other public bodies under its authority in respect of the employment of public relations companies and the procedures to be adopted in relation to requesting tenders for public relations companies. [16216]

Sir John Wheeler

No specific guidelines in respect of the employment of public relations companies have been issued. General guidance on the use of consultants, which covers public relations companies, was issued in 1989. A copy has been placed in the library.

The Northern Ireland Office, NI Departments and their agencies and public bodies can, and do, avail themselves of advice on purchasing issues, including tendering procedures, from the Government purchasing service, which is a specialist purchasing unit within the Department of Finance and Personnel.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on public relations during the financial year 1993–94; how much contracts with the private sector cost; and if he will list the activities covered by these contracts. [16283]

Sir John Wheeler

Public relations and other forms of publicity within Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office fall primarily to departmental information officers and the information services. In addition, departmental staff carry out an extensive range of public relations activities. To disaggregate the total cost of these activities from their other duties would involve disproportionate cost.

The total cost of public relations contracts with the private sector in 1993–94 was £996,118. These involved the following projects:

  • Preparation of Department of Education's corporate image, including logo.
  • Department of Education (NI) stand at the ideal home exhibition.
  • Advertising and publishing of parents charter for Department of Education (NI).
  • Updating Department of Education's database (Touch screen exhibition equipment).
  • Promotional video for the Department of Education (NI).
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  • Public relations contracts in the Industrial Development Board's (IDB) target markets of North America, Germany, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
  • Consultant employed by the Department of Economic Development (DED), in the fair employment field.
  • Privatisation of Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE).
  • New corporate identity for Making Belfast Work (MBW).
  • Best of Northern Ireland exhibition at Westminster.
  • Stormont castle publicity booklets and promotional material.
  • Launch of Valuation and Lands Agency.
  • Government purchasing service (NI) stand at HMT public procurement exhibition at Olympia.
  • Public Records Office publications.