HC Deb 17 January 2002 vol 378 cc461-2W
Mr. Grieve

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent by the Home Office on advertising in the past two years; what the cost and purpose of each advertising campaign was; which advertising agencies were involved in each campaign; and if he will make a statement. [27648]

Mr. Blunkett

[holding answer 15 January 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Perth (Annabelle Ewing) on 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 478W.

There follows a more detailed breakdown of the spending on advertising.

Over the past two years the Home Office has spent the following on advertising: In 1999–2000 £5.65 million was spent on the following campaigns: An information campaign encouraging people to register to vote—£575,000; An information campaign explaining changes to the voting system for the European Election—£1.87 million; An information campaign on how to obtain a passport—£545,000; A fire safety information campaign £1.675 million; and Police recruitment campaign (Accelerated Promotion Scheme for Graduates (APSG)/Special Constables)—£985,000. The advertising agency involved in all these campaigns is Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper. In 2000–01 £28.36 million was spent on the following campaigns: A campaign to inform people about new rolling electoral registration procedures—£3.34 million. Agency involved—Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper; A campaign to inform people about new postal voting procedures £3.2 million. Agency involved—Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper; A fire safety information campaign—£5 million. Agency involved—Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper; A campaign to make people aware of the introduction of the Human Rights Act 1998—£800,000. Agency involved—(Collett Dickinson Pearce); A police recruitment campaign—£7.35 million. Agency involved & C Saatchi; and An information campaign to help reduce vehicle crime—£8.67 million. Agency involved—Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y & R.

All the costs listed include VAT.