§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of press officers employed in his Department; in what capacity they serve; and what is the scope of their duties.
§ Mr. RifkindAt 30 April 1989 there were 27 press officers, namely:
- 1 chief information officer (A)
- 1 chief information officer (B)
- 3 principal information officers
- 9 senior information officers
- 10 information officers
- 3 assistant information officers
Their function is to support (by the provision of advice and specialist skills) Ministers and the Scottish Office Departments in supplying information to press, radio and television. They also provide a service, on request, to United Kingdom Departments, the Crown Office, those other departments that fall within my responsibilities such as Scottish Courts Administration, and a range of non-departmental public bodies. SIO is also responsible for media arrangements in relation to royal and state visits to Scotland; the provision of information overseas through the Central Office of Information; and the overseas visitor programme of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The office, which provides a 24-hour service, also lends support to the emergency services on media matters in the event of major civil emergencies such as Lockerbie.
The Scottish information Office has press offices in Edinburgh, London and Glasgow.