§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the equipment leasing arrangements entered into by his Department in each of the last four years; and what the cost is to public funds in each case. [39077]
§ Mr. LeslieThe following leasing arrangements have been entered into by my Department and its agencies in each of the last four financial years.
activities, including press, public relations, marketing and internal communications, was for his Department for each financial year from 1997–98 to 2001–02. [39925]
§ Mr. LeslieThe majority of the Cabinet Office's press office and internal communications activity, as well as management of its official website, is dealt with by the Department's Communication Group. Where appropriate the group also handles public relations.
589WThe Group's annual budget, net of receipts, for each of the financial years since 1997–98 is as follows:
£ Annual budget net of receipts 1997–98 1,629,000.00 1998–99 1,568,000.00 1999–2000 1,918,000.00 2000–01 2,400,000.00 2001–02 2,558,000.00 The increase in the budget, particularly between 1998 and 2001, is largely due to an increase in Cabinet Office activity and responsibilities relating to establishing new Units, increases in ministerial posts and the resultant additional communication activity.
For expenditure on marketing and external public relations, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 29 January 2002, Official Report, column 252W.