HC Deb 28 March 1995 vol 257 cc614-5W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the cost of producing and circulating the last departmental annual report what was the circulation list; how many copies were produced; how many copies were sold; and at what price. [16650]

Miss Widdecombe

A total of 3,550 copies of the Department's 1995 departmental report, Cm 2805, were printed and published. In addition to the copies presented to Parliament and placed in the Library, the report was also circulated to the Employment Select Committee, the Public Accounts Committee, the media and internally within the Department. The costs of printing and publishing the report were borne by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, which aims to recover the costs from sales revenue. The Department met the design costs of the report, which were £35,600. The cover price of the report is £14.60. A total of 2,134 copies of the report have been sold since its publication on 10 March 1995.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the cost of producing and circulating the departmental annual report for each of the last 10 years in real terms. [16651]

Miss Widdecombe

Departmental reports were published for the first time in 1991. Printing and publishing costs of the reports have been borne by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, which has sought to recover these costs from sales revenue. The Department is responsible for the design costs of the report. Data for the five years of publication are as follows:

  • 1991:—£12.780
  • 1992:—£12,540
  • 1993:—£13,450
  • 1994:—£21,600
  • 1995:—£35,600

The increased costs for the 1994 and 1995 reports reflect decisions to improve the range, quality and presentation of informaiton provided to both Parliament and the public.