HC Deb 20 January 1988 vol 125 cc729-30W
Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for each month the spending on advertising for the restart programme since the inception of the scheme; and if he will give the reasons for the trend shown by the figures.

Mr. Lee

[holding answer 19 January 1988]: Expenditure on advertising the restart programme and the programmes included in the range of opportunities are shown below:

£
1986
August 1,004,493
September 1,987.858
October 991,159
November 1,920,104
December 489,621
1987
January 1,029,574
February 1,302,849
March 367,568
TOTAL 9,093,226
(April to date) Nil

Advertising expenditure was heavy during the launch period to establish an initial awareness of the new programme. A lower weight was then possible and television commercials could concentrate on promoting the individual programmes under restart eg — EAS, jobclub, community programme and the restart course.

Advertising was stopped during the Christmas period when air time is at a premium and experience shows it to be less effective. It was resumed again at a slightly heavier weight to regain awareness.