§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [71459]
§ Mr. Chris Smith[holding answer 16 February 1999]Rules governing the work of the GICS are laid down in the Guidance on the work of the Government Information Service published by the Cabinet Office in July 1997. More specific guidance on the writing and issuing of press releases is given in the Working Guide for Government Information Officers. Copies of both have been placed in the Library of the House.
The cost of press releases issued since May 1997 by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and its predecessor the Department of National Heritage was £46,614 excluding VAT.
Information on press releases issued by the Royal Parks Agency, and Department's 41 Executive non-departmental Public Bodies, 9 Advisory non-departmental Public Bodies, and 5 Public Corporations is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press releases have been issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71444]
§ Mr. Chris Smith [holding answer 16 February 1999]The Department of National Heritage, predecessor to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, was created in April 1992. Since the creation of the Department the following press releases have been issued; 53W
Date Amount 14 April 1992 to 31 December 1992 129 1 January 1993 to 31 December 1993 191 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1994 189 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1995 256 1 January 1996 to 31 December 1996 414 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1997 349 1 January 1998 to 31 December 1998 319 Information on press releases issued by the Royal Parks Agency, the Department's 41 Executive non-departmental Public Bodies, 9 Advisory non-departmental Public Bodies, and 5 Public Corporations is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.