§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press releases have been issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71445]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThe Ministry of Defence Press Office issues all press notices on defence policy matters. For the period in question it has issued the following number:
Number 1990 136 1991 145 1992 306 1993 186 1994 178 1995 147 1996 170 1997 231 1998 333 In addition to the MOD Press Office, the various regional military public relations offices issue press notices covering routine local issues, as well as copies of centrally issued press releases which they may consider to be relevant to their region. Precise figures for those press notices issued by all of the regional offices, which take account of such "duplicate" releases, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The two Defence Agencies which issue their own press notices are the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) and the Met Office. The number of press notices they have issued in the period are as follows:
DERA Met Office 1990 — — 1991 — 32 1992 — 43 1993 — 62 1994 — 24 1995 20 52 1996 23 54 1997 13 49 1998 14 44 Press notices covering appointments to MOD-sponsored non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are issued centrally by the MOD press office. NDPBs do issue their own press notices from time to time covering routine matters; complete records are not held centrally, however, for the period in question.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the conventions governing the propriety and cost of press releases issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies; and what is the total cost of the press releases issued since May 1997. [71460]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonRules governing the work of the Government Information and Communication Service are laid down in the Guidance on the work of the Government Information Service published by the Cabinet Office in July 1997. More specific guidance on the writing and issuing of press releases is given in the612W Working Guide for Government Information Officers. Copies of both documents are in the Library of the House. For the period in question, the cost to my Department of distributing press releases centrally was approximately £31,000. Figures covering the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, the Met Office and non-departmental public bodies are not separately identified within their budgets.