§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spends on biking press releases to(a) hon. Members and (b) other individuals or groups, each time her Department issues a press release; how many such press releases were issued by her Department (i) in the period 1 May to 1 July and (ii) in the period 1 January to 1 March; and if she will review her Department's use of couriers to deliver press releases and investigate the possibility of using fax or e-mail. [8819]
§ Clare ShortMy department does not use a biking service for any of its press releases. They are sent by fax, post and through the Central Office of Information's News Delivery Service. Nine press releases were issued in this way between 1 January and 1 March 1997 and 12 between 1 May and 1 July.