HC Deb 22 July 2004 vol 424 cc661-2W
Mr. Wiggin

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on press officers, broken down by grade, in(a) 1996–97 and (b) the last year for which figures are available. [185234]

Mr. McNulty

[holding answer 19 July 2004](a) I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on 26 May 2004, Official Report, column 1626W that provided information for the financial year 1996–97.

(b) The salary cost of press officers employed in 2003–04 was £697,000. The average number of staff in post in that year broken down by grade (full time equivalent) is as follows:

2003–04
Pay hand/grade Number
Senior Civil Service 1 0.79
7.1 (Grade 6) 0.17
6.1 (Grade 7) 0.83

2003–04
Pay hand/grade Number
5.6 (Senior Information Officer) 3.08
4.7 (Information Officer) 8.92
Total 13.8