HC Deb 14 December 1992 vol 216 cc45-6W
Mr. Bayley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press releases her Department has issued since 9 April.

Mr. Sackville

The Department has issued 301 press releases since 9 April.

Mr. Bayley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press and public relations officers currently work for her Department; and what information she has on the number working for(a) regional health authorities, (b) district health authorities and (c) national health service trusts.

Mr. Sackville

Functions which are commonly associated with press and public relations are carried out by the Departments information division; 39 staff are currently employed as information officers.

The number of press and public relations officers working in the national health service is not collected centrally.

Mr. Bayley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the list of(a) journalists, (b) departmental officials, (c) NHS personnel and (d) other people who regularly receive copies of her Departments press releases.

Mr. Sackville

No.

The Department regularly issues press releases through the Central Office of Information to enable journalists to report on departmental and ministerial announcements. Distributions are also made to all national health service general managers and a limited number of non-journalists and organisations.

The names of recipients vary depending on the subject.