HC Deb 19 November 1986 vol 105 cc201-2W
Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the total spending of the Metropolitan Police on press and public relations in the current year; and what it was in 1979–80 and each intervening year.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that staffing and accommodation costs of the Directorate of Public Affairs and spending on recruitment and other advertising and other promotional literature totalled £3,622,861 in 1985–86. The estimate for 1986–87 is £4,184,294. Total costs for earlier years are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press and public relations staff are employed in the Metropolitan Police; and how many were employed in 1979–80 and each intervening year.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the number of staff in the information officer grades employeed in the directorate of public affairs on 31 October 1986 was 39. The number at the end of each financial year from 1979–80 is as follows:

Number
31 March 1980 30
31 March 1981 29
31 March 1982 29
31 March 1983 27
31 March 1984 35
31 March 1985 31
31 March 1986 35

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the estimated spending by the Metropolitan Police on television, radio and newspaper advertising, respectively, and other promotional literature in the current year; and what was the total in 1979–80 and each intervening year.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that expenditure by the Metropolitan Police on all forms of recruitment and other advertising, and other promotional literature, in each financial year from 1979–80 to 1985–86 and the estimated expenditure for 1986–87 as follows:

£
1979–80 759,000
1980–81 967,000
1981–82 1,062,000
1982–83 1,028,000
1983–84 1,675,000
1984–85 1,747,000
1985–86 1,868,000
11986–87 2,375,000
1 Estimated

A breakdown of this expenditure is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.