HC Deb 18 November 1985 vol 87 c92W
Mr. Simon Hughes

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. MacGregor

During the year ended 31 March 1985, the Treasury issued 205 press releases; press conferences, briefings and interviews were held regularly throughout the year; and 10 issues of "Economic Progress Report" were published.

Mr. Simon Hughes

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. MacGregor

About £200,000.

Mr. Simon Hughes

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what form his Department keeps accounts of its expenditure on publicity; and by what means those accounts are published.

Mr. MacGregor

This expenditure is part of the cost of the Treasury's information division, spending on which totalled £508,000 in 1984–85. The total costs of the information division are subsumed under subhead B1 of the Estimate for Ecomomic and Financial Administration (HM Treasury): class XIII, Vote 4 and are published annually in the Appropriation Account.