§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press releases have been issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71449]
§ Mr. StrawThe information for my Department and its agencies is as follows:
657W
Year Home Office Prison Service Forensic Science Service 1990 475 — 1991 1452 — 1992 340 — 1993 319 56
Year Home Office Prison Service Forensic Science Service 1994 314 68 1995 308 61 1996 404 57 1997 386 67 11 1998 524 73 17 1 Figures include any press releases issued for the Passport Agency and Forensic Science Service (FSS) until April 1997. Thereafter, FSS figures are shown separately. I shall ask the Chief Executives of the non-departmental bodies to write to the hon. Member shortly with information about any press releases they may have issued.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [71464]
§ Mr. StrawRules 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 the Working Guide for Information Officers. Copies of both documents are in the Library.
The primary costs of issuing press releases relate to their electronic distribution, which is carried out through the Central Office of Information, and postage. The estimated total of these costs is £36,124. No central record of other costs which may be involved (e.g. faxing, e-mail etc.) is available.