Publicity (Hansard, 24 July 1996)

§ Ms Hodge
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's budget in 1996–97 for consultants to assist with information, publicity, press and media. [39353]
425W

§ Mr. Soames
This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

§ Ms Hodge
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the cost of staff employed full time or part time (i) to provide information and publicity and (ii) to work on the press and media in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1993–94; [39436]
(2) how many staff were employed full time or part time (a) to provide information and publicity and (b) on press and media in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1994–95 and (iii) 1993–94. [39415]

§ Mr. Soames
In 1995–96 we employed a combination of 170 military and civilian staff to cover both the MOD and the armed forces press and public relations activities worldwide. They include staff working on the major service and civilian in-house newspapers and magazines. Of the total number of staff employed 69 were service personnel.
As at March 1995—for 1994–95—the figure was 160. For 1993–94 the figure was 175.
The total annual salary bill for these personnel for 1995–96 is estimated at £6.6 million. Actual outturn is spread across many budgets and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. Figures for 1994–95 and 1993–94 are not available.

§ Ms Hodge
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many staff employed (i) full time and (ii) part time, are budgeted to provide information and publicity in 1996–97; [39380]
(2) how many staff are assumed in his Department's budget, employed (i) full time and (ii) part time, (a) to work on the press and media and (b) to provide information and publicity in 1996–97; [39364]
(3) what is the cost budgeted for staff, employed full time or part time, to provide information and publicity in 1996–97; [39440]
(4) what is the cost, assumed in the budget, of people employed full time or part time to work on the press and media in 1996–97. [39974]

§ Mr. Soames
We employ a combination of 174 military and civilian staff to cover both the MOD and the armed forces press and public relations activities worldwide. They include staff working on the major Service and civilian in-house newspapers and magazines. Of the total number of staff employed, 59 are service personnel.
The total annual salary budgeted for these personnel in 1996–97 is £6.6 million.
It is not practical to differentiate between work on press and media, and information and publicity.