§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy what will be the total spending of his Department on press and public relations in the current year; and what it was in 1979–80 and each intervening year.
§ Mr. Peter Walker[pursuant to his reply, 19 November 1986, c. 232]: Expenditure by my Department on press and public relations in each of the years beginning 1979–80 was:
£ thousand 1979–80 595 1980–81 796 1981–82 736 1982–83 674 1983–84 913 1984–85 7,450 1985–86 12,257 1986–871 14,200 1Anticipated. Notes:
1. Before 1983–84, certain costs incurred through Her Majesty's Stationery Office were not separately identified as press and public relations. Detailed information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
2. COI adopted a repayment service from 1984–85 onwards. The figures quoted above for 1979–80 to 1983–84 do not include the allied service costs incurred by the COI on behalf of my Department.
3. The figures (in cash prices) include:
(i) programme expenditure on information and publicity material including advertising, displays, exhibitions, films, promotions, publications, research, seminars, theatre groups and the press office;
(ii) staff costs (salaries, accommodation and common services) for all permanent information service and support staff in post on 1 April each year based upon ready reckoner figures.
4. The figures exclude costs involved in gas privatisation on which I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sedgefield (Mr. Blair) on 5 November, at column 471.
5. The bulk of the programme costs incurred in the financial years 1985–86 to 1986–87 were in respect of the energy efficiency campaign and Energy Efficiency Year.