§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people were employed in a press or public relations function in her Department on 1 January in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002. [39937]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe following table shows the average staff numbers within DFEE/DFES press office and publicity division over the period in question:
FTE Year Press office total Publicity division total 1996–97 19 50 1997–98 20.5 68 1998–99 29.5 51 1999–2000 27.5 44 2000–01 28 42 2001–021 23 39 1 The staffing figure for 2001–02 excludes five members of staff transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions from both the press office and publicity division, as part of the Machinery of Government changes following the general election.