HC Deb 18 January 2001 vol 361 cc345-6W
Mr. Clappison

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01, (i) his Department's total spending on advertising campaigns, (ii) the cost of each individual advertising campaign and (iii) the criteria that were established to gauge the effectiveness of each campaign; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of each campaign based on these criteria. [142715]

Ms Quin

Detailed data relating to advertising campaigns, undertaken by MAFF for years since 1996–97 are available only at disproportionate cost. However, the following represents the best available information about apportionment of funding to advertising activity for the years in question. For the year 1999–2000 to date, total media costs are shown as a single figure.

£
1996–97
Rabies 138,000
Personal imports 134,000
Total 272,000
1997–98
Cattle passports 8,000
Personal imports 102,000
National Science week 2,000
IACS 7,000
Sheep scab 22,000
Livestock markets (animal welfare) 22,000
Cattle traceability 54,000
Food safety 176,000
Miscellaneous 30,000
Total 423,000
1998–99
Clean livestock 10,000
Equine viral arthritis 3,000
TB in badgers 4,000
Livestock markets (animal welfare) 40,000
Science in practice 8,000
Personal imports 166,000
BSE 29,000
Cattle passports 34,000
Food safety 850,000
Total 1,144,000
1999–20001
Recruitment 4,000
Animal Health 7,000
Environment 6,000
Pet travel scheme 98,000
Miscellaneous 21,000
Media costs attributable to 1999 campaigns to date 771,000
Total 907,000
1 To date

Advertising is usually a limited part of a campaign strategy. It has therefore not been subject to specific evaluation as a general rule. However, the recent Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) campaign was evaluated: to monitor awareness of the scheme; to monitor awareness of the advertising; and to assess whether the campaigns intended messages had been communicated. Overall, those objectives were considered to have been achieved.