HC Deb 14 January 1993 vol 216 cc767-8W
Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what is the organisational structure of the press facility provided to the royal household by the Central Office of Information; and what is its remit;

(2) what was the cost in 1991–92, and what is the provision for 1992–93, of the press facilities provided to the royal household by the Central Office of Information; how many personnel are involved and in what capacities: and how much of the expenditure relates to salaries and staff costs;

(3) who recruits the personnel who make up the press facility supplied to the royal household by the Central Office of Information; to whom they are accountable; and what is their relationship to the head of the Government press service.

Mr. Waldegrave

Responsibility for the subject of these questions has been delegated to the chief executive of the Central Office of Information. I have asked him to write to the?s right hon. Gentleman direct.

Letter from Mike Devereau to Mr. Alan Williams, undated: You recently tabled three Parliamentary Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster concerning press services provided by COI to the Royal Household. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply. The press facility for the Royal Household is provided by staff employed in COI's eight regional offices in England. The staff are COI employees managed by their regional director but working to the brief of the Royal Household. The remit is to make arrangements for press attendance at visits by senior members of the Royal Family while carrying out their official duties in England. The cost of work undertaken for the Royal Household by COI in 1991–92 for press facilities totalled £318,260 excluding VAT. The estimated spend for the same services in 1992–93 is some £350,000 excluding VAT. Normally one or two members of COI staff are involved in providing services for each Royal visit. Approximately 50 per cent. of the expenditure relates to salaries and associated staff costs. The personnel who make up the press facility are, as members of the staff of the Central Office of Information, fully accountable to me. Their recruitment, training and career development is arranged with the support of the Information Officer Management Unit which provides similar support to all Information Officers working for Government and for which I am also responsible as the Head of Profession for information staff.