§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much his Department spends on biking press releases to(a) hon. Members and (b) other individuals or groups, each time his Department issues a press release; how many such press releases were issued by his Department (i) in the period 1 May to 1 July and (ii) in the period 1 January to 1 March; and if he will review his Department's use of couriers to deliver press releases and investigate the possibility of using fax or e-mail. [8810]
§ Angela EagleThe Department uses a courier for delivery of press releases to the Press Gallery. This is part of a general courier service for the Department as a whole and costs for these specific deliveries are not separately identified.
With this exception, it is not normal practice for the Department to send press releases by courier to hon. Members, other individuals or groups.
In common with other Departments, press releases are distributed to the media through the Central Office of Information's News Distribution Service, which utilises a combination of electronic and hard copy delivery methods. In addition to this, the Department issues releases to other interested parties by post, or exceptionally fax.