§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much staff time, and at what estimated cost, was put into compiling the departmental annual report; and what were the figures for each year for which figures are available since 1990. [20183]
§ Sir John WheelerWithin Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office, information on costs is not readily collectable, as much of the material obtained for the report is also required for other purposes, such as strategic planning. However, the estimated cost borne by the Department of Finance and Personnel, in editing and composing the 1995 Northern Ireland departmental report, from material submitted by other Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office was some £25,000. This covers some 13 man months of staff time by the editor and his team, along with some 3.5 weeks of staff time by typists in composing the report. Estimated editing and composing costs for previous years are broadly comparable in real terms.