§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff were employed in the Department to work in the communications field, and what the total expenditure on communications for the Department was, broken down by(a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others, in (A) 1994–95, (B) 1996–97, (C) 1997–98 and (D) 2001–02. [168682]
§ Ms HewittThe detailed information requested is not held in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 4 February 2003,Official Report, column 180W, giving details of the number of press officers and press office costs for 1996–97 and 2001–02.