§ Mr. Tim Smithasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many copies of each of their press releases are normally issued by the Inland Revenue and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, respectively; and what arrangements are made for their dissemination.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe Inland Revenue normally issues some 3,250 copies of each of its press releases—to the national and main provincial media (including radio and television) through the news distribution service (NDS) of the Central Office of Information, and by direct post to specialist and technical publications and representative bodies and to subscribers to the departmental mailing list.
Customs and Excise press releases are intended primarily for the media and publication points; about 1,100 are issued of each. The NDS of the COI is used for distribution to television and radio outlets, to the national and provincial press and to certain trade and specialist journals. Copies can also be obtained by interested parties from the NDS on a subscription basis. In addition, Customs and Excise distributes copies by direct post to other trade and technical outlets — including the accountancy and legal press — and to professional bodies.