§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost of running the Department's press office was in(a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available. [46811]
§ Ruth Kelly[holding answer 10 April 2002]: It is not possible to separate out figures for the cost of running the press office. The number of press officers employed across this period remained broadly constant. Figures are available for the total running costs for the strategy and public inquiry unit and press office combined, which were as follows:
1996–97: £694,4192000–01: £1,235,649.