§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Prime Minister (1) if the predominant flow of information in respect of deciding initiatives will be from individual departments to the Strategic Communications Unit or vice versa; [24365]
(2) if the Strategic Communications Unit can decide which government policies merit the greatest promotion; [24315]
(3) what will be the role of the Strategic Communications Unit in determining the timing of announcements by other departments; [24366]
(4) whether individual departments will be required to clear press statements and news releases with the Strategic Communications Unit before their issue. [24314]
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 14 January 1998, Official Report, columns 233–40.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Prime Minister what is the role of the Minister without Portfolio in the Strategic Communications Unit. [24367]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Strategic Communications Unit will report to me via my Chief Press Secretary. The Minister without Portfolio will have an interest in the work of the Unit in view of his responsibilities for co-ordinating the overall presentation of Government policy.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Prime Minister what budget has been allocated to the Strategic Communications Unit, in respect of(a) personnel costs, (b) administrative costs, (c) the costs of publications and (d) other costs. [24313]
§ The Prime MinisterThe budget of the Strategic Communications Unit has not yet been finalised.