§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her Answer of 2 December,Official Report, colum 131–32, on publicity and advertising, if she will provide a breakdown of (a) publicity expenditure by category for the last year for which information is available and (b) spending on recruitment advertising in 1997–98; for what reasons spending on recruitment advertising has risen since 1993–94; and if she will make a statement. [20058]
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§ Clare ShortThe total estimated expenditure on publicity for 1997–98 is £1.3 million, broken down as follows:
£ Publications 220,000 British Overseas Development Newspaper 182,000 Exhibitions and Events 161,000 Video News Release 6,000 Development Education Grants 724,000 The Development Education Grants are to non-government organisations producing work which increases the public's awareness of development issues.
The current total expenditure on recruitment advertising in 1997–98 is £863,682.77.
The increase in the cost of advertising is principally due to a higher number of posts now being advertised as a result of the enhanced role and remit of the department. The cost of advertising has also increased by about 5 per cent. per annum. It is our practice to hold open competitions and to advertise for all posts where possible, unless there are compelling circumstances to justify a nominated candidate.
The number of recruitment advertisements placed in the last three years was:
- 1995: 167
- 1996: 190
- 1997: 247 (to date).
We have also spent £2,746 in 1997–98 as the Department of International Development's contribution to the advertising of fast stream administrative posts by the Recruitment and Assessment Services.