§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total expenditure on(a) all forms of publicity and (b) all publications and pamphlets produced for his Department and for all the agencies and public bodies for which his Department is responsible, for each year since 1979, including the budgeted figure for 1995–96, (i) including and (ii) excluding privatisation-related expenditures and expressed in 1994 prices; and if he will supply information for the period from 1 April 1993 to 1 March 1995 showing (1) the nature and (2) the purpose of each publicity campaign and of each publication involving the expenditure of more than £50,000. [14603]
§ Mr. Hague[holding answer 17 March 1995]: This Department was established in 1988. The information for years prior to April 1993 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
181WI refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor) on 15 February 1994, Official Report, columns 692–96 and on 1 March 1994, Official Report, column 694, which lists the budget and costs of each of these campaigns in excess of £10,000 conducted by this Department.
The following figures refer to publicity for external audiences.
Anticipated total expenditures for 1994–95 £ Department of Social Security Headquarters 5,050,000 Benefits Agency 8,544,000 Child Support Agency 418,000 Contributions Agency 4,135,000 War Pensions Agency 19,000
April 1994–95 purpose and nature of each campaign HQ/Agency Campaign Purpose Nature DSS/HQ Disability To increase awareness of discrimination against disabled people Mixed media Working with Benefits To provide information about in-work benefits Mixed media Child Support To inform public of changes to child support maintenance Mixed media Pensions Reminding people of pensions choices Mixed media Family Credit To maintain awareness among advisers and public Mixed media Incapacity Benefit Inform advisers and public prior to implementation of new policy Mixed media Disability Working Allowance To raise awareness and take-up of DWA Mixed media Benefits Agency Disability To support the Year of Disabled People Mixed media Year of the Family Supporting the International Year of the Family Mixed media Incapacity Benefit To advise customers and interested parties of the new Incapacity Benefit Mixed media Adviser newsletter To advise intermediaries of current developments and publicity initiatives Publication BBC Select To advise staff and interested groups of current developments and initiatives TV programme BA Today Contributions Agency Direct Debit Encourage cost efficient direct debit practices among self-employed Mixed media Contributions compliance Information to employers to facilitate their compliance Mixed media Child Support Agency Lone Parents Guide to Employment Publications in a variety of formats