Publicity (Hansard, 5 November 1991)

§ Mr. Dobson
To ask the Attorney-General if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by the Lord Chancellor's Department during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each(a) the topic, (b) the commencement date, (c) the duration and (d) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.

§ The Attorney-General
The Lord Chancellor's Department has no plans to carry out any television advertising campaigns during 1991–92, nor any individual publicity campaigns costing more than £100,000.

§ Mr. Dobson
To ask the Attorney-General if he will give separate figures for spending by the Lord Chancellor's Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.

§ The Attorney-General
The figures for the Lord Chancellor's Department, excluding staff costs, are as follows:14W

1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92

£ £ £ £¹

Television advertising Nil Nil Nil Nil

Radio advertising Nil Nil Nil Nil

Newspaper advertising 15,000 3,967 50,242 4,900

Other promotional material 32,500 31,208 77,968 69,550

¹ Estimated.

Figures for the budget for 1992–93 will not be available until after the autumn statement and after budgets have been finalised.
The breakdown of the amounts spent on respective areas and the amounts spent for the previous years can be obtained only at disproportionate cost, but the total expenditure, including staff costs, was:

£

1984–85 135,730

1985–86 176,613

1986–87 148,020

1987–88 137,001

§ Mr. Dobson
To ask the Attorney-General whether the Lord Chancellor's Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

§ The Attorney-General
The Lord Chancellor's Department has not sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.

§ Mr. Dobson
To ask the Attorney-General what was the total expenditure by the Lord Chancellor's Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.
The Attorney-General: Total expenditure on press and public relations excluding staff costs is as follows:

£

1984–85 5,180

1985–86 13,253

1986–87 23,282

1987–88 34,500

1988–89 34,159

1989–90 33,616

1990–91 ¹36,960

¹ As revised

The revised 1990–91 figure was lower than anticipated because the Lord Chancellor's Department was not required to contribute to the Children Act publicity to the extent originally envisaged.
The amounts spent between 1979 and 1984 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The estimate for 1991–92 is £63,450. This includes the Lord Chancellor's Department press office's additional responsibility for departmental leaflets, the increased cost of publicity to explain the role of the courts and the judiciary, to expand public understanding in areas where new legislation is proposed or implemented, or law reforms considered.
Figures for the budget for 1992–93 will not be available until after the autumn statement and after budgets have been finalised.

	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92
	£	£	£	£¹
Television advertising	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Radio advertising	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Newspaper advertising	15,000	3,967	50,242	4,900
Other promotional material	32,500	31,208	77,968	69,550
¹ Estimated.

	£
1984–85	135,730
1985–86	176,613
1986–87	148,020
1987–88	137,001

	£
1984–85	5,180
1985–86	13,253
1986–87	23,282
1987–88	34,500
1988–89	34,159
1989–90	33,616
1990–91	¹36,960
¹ As revised