§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Minister for the Civil Service how many members of his Department, of whatever grade or specialisation, are engaged whole or part-time in public and press relations, expressing the total in whole-time equivalents; and what is their total annual cost to public funds.
§ Mr. ChannonThe Civil Service Department has three information staff and four support staff, at an annual cost of £39,500 and £22,000 respectively, engaged whole or part-time in public or press relations duties.
The Central Office of Information has 43 information staff and 21 support staff, at an annual cost of £418,000 and £80,300 respectively, employed on similar duties. One of these information staff is employed at the Department's headquarters in London. The other staff are in the Department's nine regional offices where they provide a press and public relations service to other Government Departments.
Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the Government Actuary's Department have no staff engaged whole or part-time in public and press relations duties.