§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines his Department has issued to its agencies and other public bodies under its authority in respect of the employment of public relations companies and the procedures to be adopted in relation to requesting tenders for public relations companies. [16658]
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe circumstances in which a commercial public relations company may be employed by Government Departments are strictly limited. They are set out in central guidance, as are the procedures to be followed in respect of contract tendering. Agency framework documents explicitly reiterate the need to observe central Government requirements in purchasing of any external services.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much his Department spent on public relations during the financial year 1993–94; how much contracts with the private sector cost; and if he will list the activities covered by these contracts. [16285]
§ Mr. WaldegraveIn the financial year 1993–94, my Department, excluding agencies, spent £4.3 million publicity, publications and pamphlets. Central rules specifically preclude the engagement of commercial consultants for direct representational tasks and none was so employed.