§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many press releases were issued by his Department in the financial years(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000; how many have been issued in the current financial year; and what his estimate is of the total number for the current financial year. [149240]
§ Mrs. Liddell[holding answer 8 February 2001]: The former Scottish Office issued 1,968 press releases in 1996–97; 2,162 in 1997–98 and 2,451 in 1998–99.
The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. In 1999–2000 the Department issued 174 press releases and 372 in 2000–01.