§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much has been spent by his Department in each of the past five years on publications for: (a) free distribution and (b) sale under £1;
(2) what has been the total cost of producing publications on aspects of Her Majesty's Government's defence policies in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. Stanley[pursuant to his reply, 8 April 1987]: In the time available it is not possible to produce figures in the precise form requested. or for a full five-year period. However, all material produced on public relations Votes is free of charge and in the last three financial years expenditure was as follows:
£ 1984–85 340,125 1985–86 269,440 1996–87 1408,273 1Forecast of outturn. In addition the MOD produces considerable amounts of material in support of recruitment to the armed forces. Figures over the same period are, as follows:
£ 1984–85 1,559,000 1985–86 1,345,000 1986–87 1,302,000 The MOD produces a wide range of material for sale both through HMSO, the Crown Publishers, and on a repayment basis through the single service forms and publications stores. The amounts spent in each of the past five years on publications for sale at less than £1, and on aspects of defence policies separately from other MOD publications, cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.