HC Deb 17 July 1987 vol 119 cc645-6W
Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total spending by his Department on press and public relations in 1986–87; and what is the estimated expenditure for the current year.

Mr. Eggar

Total expenditure on press and public relations was as follows:

£ million
1986–87 1987–88 Estimate
Payment to Central Office of Information for overseas information material and related activities 18.7 19.6
Other Information Services 0.7 0.9
Running costs of Diplomatic Wing Information/News Department 11.9 2.0
Running costs of ODA Wing Information Department 0.2 0.2
Costs of Information Staff at overseas posts 114.6 15.9
Total 136.1 38.6
1 Indicates provisional figures.

Most of this expenditure is incurred in carrying out the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's responsibilities for the projection of Britain's image and Her Majesty's Government's policies overseas.

Mr. Frank Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what what the total spending by his Department on television radio and newspaper advertising and other promotional literature in 1986–87; and what is the estimated expenditure for the current year.

Mr. Eggar

Foreign and Commonwealth Office expenditure on advertising and other promotional literature in 1986–87 was:

FCO Diplomatic Wing FCO ODA Wing
£ £
1986–87 335,754 228,347
Estimates for 1987–88 are 198,000 240,000

This expenditure relates mainly to advertising for recruitment; advertising relating to the Anglo-Soviet agreement on the settlement of claims (1986–87 only); publicity to promote the new entitlement of certain British residents overseas to vote in British and European Parliament elections; and promotional literature in the United Kingdom. A breakdown of these figures to identify the medium used is not available.