HC Deb 08 November 1999 vol 337 cc434-5W
Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many copies of "Voices" magazine have been published; how many have been distributed and to whom; and what was the cost of publishing this magazine. [97311]

Ms Jowell

[holding answer 5 November 1999]: 20,000 copies of the "Voices" magazine were published. The publishing and production costs were £59,976.80. The cost of the publication was shared in part with other Government Departments.

Every copy of "Voices" has been distributed. Copies were sent to approximately 2,000 women who attended the Listening to women roadshows, as promised to them, the Women's National Commission, all GP's surgeries and Primary Health Care Directors and NHS and Local Authority Chief Executives, Citizens Advice Bureaux, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality, media contacts and individual requests from members of the public, universities, local authority services etc. Copies were sent to the Parliamentary Library, Cabinet Ministers, women MPs and Peers, The Welsh Assembly, The Scottish Executive and the Scottish Women's Forum, The Northern Ireland Executive, Women MEPs, three EU Commissioners, Civil Service Departments and appropriate branch heads. There is a significant demand for "Voices" from a wide range of sources, so a re-print of 10,000 copies has been ordered to meet these requests. This will cost a further £17,439. Copies of "Voices" will be distributed to all public libraries shortly. Copies have been sent to the UN, the European Commission and overseas contacts.

The Key points, Government actions and contact numbers in "Voices" were also published in a summary leaflet. Approximately 250,000 leaflets were printed at a cost of £12,927 and these are being distributed through retail outlets (Bhs and Mothercare) and GP surgeries to ensure we reached as many women as possible.