§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the reasons for the published increase in the figure for the Central Office of Information in the Winter Supplementary Estimates; and if he will indicate what work the additional sums are being or will be spent on.
§ Mr. BrookeThe Central Office of Information winter supplementary of £29.9 million provides for expenditure on publicity which could not have been anticipated for COI's main estimate. Most of the supplementary is for the sale of BP shares on behalf of Her Majesty's Treasury (£22.3 million), and for employment campaigns, particularly for the Manpower Services Commission. The costs will be recovered from these departments as publicity is carried out on a repayment basis.