§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) different press releases were issued, (b) press conferences were held and (c) different documents or papers relating to information or publicity were issued by his Department in the past 12 months.
§ Mr. YoungerThe following is the information:
- (a) 1,757.
- (b) News conferences are held very frequently, no record is maintained.
- (c) Individual leaflets, posters, and other paid publicity items total about 260.
§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to his Department of issuing press releases, holding press conferences and issuing documents or papers of information or publicity in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
§ Mr. YoungerThe running costs of the Scottish information office in 1984–85 amounted to approximately £1.5 million, including the cost of paid publicity. It is not possible to calculate as a separate item within the overall budget the costs of the activities requested by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what form his Department keeps accounts of its expenditure on publicity; and by what means those accounts are published.
§ Mr. YoungerThe total costs of the Scottish information office are subsumed under subheads Al and A2 of the Estimates for Scottish Office Administration (class XV, Vote 24) and have been published annually in the Appropriation Account.