§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the conventions governing the propriety and cost of press releases issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies; and what is the total cost of the press releases issued since May 1997. [71463]
§ Ms JowellThe Department adheres to the Access of Information Code of Practice. The Department continually reviews the most cost effective methods for issuing press releases, however, no separate costing is available, as the cost is absorbed within the expenditure for running the Department's Communications Directorate.
The following figures are the press releases issued since May 1997:
734W
- May-December 1997: 320
- 1998: 556
- January-12 February 1999: 71.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press releases have been issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71448]
§ Ms JowellThe information requested is in the table.
The table indicates all press releases issued for the requested period 1990 to 1998. The Department's press office issues press releases on behalf of the Medical Devices Agency, Medicines Control Agency, National Health Service Pensions Agency, National Health Service Estates and some non-departmental public bodies.
Year Total 1990 484 1991 529 1992 454 1993 683 1994 610 1995 588 1996 366 1997 406 1998 556