§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's 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. [71466]
§ Mr. Hoon[holding answer 16 February 1999]Rules governing the work of the GCIS are laid down in the Guidance on the work of the Government Information46W 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 Government Information Officers. Copies of both documents are in the Libraries of the House.
No cost is incurred by my Department, its agencies and non-governmental bodies for the use of external consultants for the preparation of press releases. However, both my Department and HM Land Registry use the services of the Central Office of Information (COI) for the electronic distribution of press releases. The cost for this service to my Department was £24,561.62 for the period between May 1997 and the end of March 1999. The cost for HM Land Registry was £10,472.79 for the same period.
Since neither staff time spent on the preparation of press releases nor stationery costs or postage incurred in their distribution are separately recorded the further information requested could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.