HL Deb 17 December 2001 vol 630 cc17-8WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they consider that the expenditure of £20,000 on designing a new logo for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs represents value for money. [HL1814]

Lord Whitty

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has retained a strategic communications consultancy to advise on a range of corporate communications activities. This was done after a process of competitive tendering. The fee for this work is still being negotiated.

The aim of the work is to develop and establish an identity for a new government department which has a key role to play in delivering important policies. This identity will be important to the staff and to the stakeholders they deal with.

The identity project will include the production of new corporate materials and advice on how these would be used in all departmental communications. The new materials will be introduced as the old materials run out and there are no plans for a re-launch exercise.

Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On whose authority the decision to design a new logo for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was taken. [HL1815]

Lord Whitty

On advice from Defra's Communications Directorate, staffed by specialists from the Government Information and Communication Service (GICS), my right honourable friend the Secretary of State gave the go-ahead for the project.

Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they believe that the design of a new logo for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will have the effect of boosting the department's image. [HL1816]

Lord Whitty

A new logo is part of the process of developing a new identity for Defra. This process is aimed at establishing a clear understanding by staff and stakeholders of the role the department has been created to perform.

Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the decision to design a new logo for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was put out to competitive tender. [HL1817]

Lord Whitty

A competitive tendering process was undertaken through COI Communications, the agency which specialises in communications for the public sector.