§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what budget his Department has for advertising in ethnic newspapers or magazines, the services and responsibilities of his Department; and what amount of money has been spent on this publicity in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. HeseltineFor the most part my Department informs the public about its services and responsibilities through an extensive range of explanatory leaflets and booklets rather than through advertising. Where a need has been identified, many of these publications are translated into languages other than English.
My Department has no specific budget for advertising in ethnic newspapers or magazines. Between 1985–86 and 1988–89 no expenditure was incurred on such advertising. In 1989–90, £21,758 was spent on advertising in the ethnic press to promote awareness of the explanatory leaflets on the community charge and the community charge benefits scheme.