HC Deb 22 February 1999 vol 326 cc75-8W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many press releases have been issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71446]

Mr. Meale

[holding answer 16 February 1999]The information is as follows:

Department of the Environment Department of Transport
1990 736 461
1991 819 392
1992 865 375
1993 893 525
1994 743 502
1995 655 440
1996 579 410
19971 171 96
1 1 January 1997 to 30 April 1997

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
19971 586
1998 1,121
1 1 May 1997 to 31 December 1997

Regional Press Releases
DoE/Dot 19961 DoE/DoT/DETR 1997 DETR 1998
North East 55 71 100
North West 50 108 127
Yorkshire and Humberside 196 259 360
West Midlands 183 120 162
South West n/a 175 258
East Midlands 100 95 115
Eastern n/a 170 379
South East 83 109 119
1Figures prior to 1996 are not available. Figures for 1996 are aggregates of those issued on behalf of the former DoE and DoT. For 1997 DoE, DoT and from 1 May 1997 the DETR. Figures for 1998 relate to DETR.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  • 1990: 30
  • 1991: 28
  • 1992: 22
  • 1993: 26
  • 1994: 31
  • 1995: 23
  • 1996: 24
  • 1997: 26
  • 1998: 24

Driving Standards Agency

  • 1990: 6
  • 1991: 24
  • 1992: 45
  • 1993: 29
  • 1994: 35
  • 1995: 10
  • 1996: 33
  • 1997: 71
  • 1998: 61

Highways Agency (Established 1994)

  • 1994: 11
  • 1995: 34
  • 1996: 67
  • 1997: 33
  • 1998: 33.

Regional Press Releases
19961 1997 1998
North East 40 46 103
North West 200 124 180
Yorkshire and Humberside 286 258 346
West Midlands 191 199 230
South West n/a 75 87
East Midlands 189 87 175
Eastern n/a 74 167
South East 190 225 213
1 Figures prior to 1996 are not available

Year Number
Marine Safety Agency (Established 1994)
1994 14
1995 41
1996 33
1997 21
19981 2
Coastguard Agency (Established 1994)
1994 9
1995 23
1996 2
1997 94
19981 31
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (Established 1998)
19982 280
1 1 January 1998 to 31 March 1998
2 1 April 1998 to 31 December 1998

Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

  • 1990: 7
  • 1991: 8
  • 1992: 9
  • 1993: 8
  • 1994: 10
  • 1995: 9
  • 1996: 12
  • 1997: 14
  • 1998: 13

Vehicle Certification Agency

  • 1990: nil
  • 1991: 1
  • 1992–1995: nil
  • 1996: 2
  • 1997–1998: nil

Vehicle Inspectorate

  • 1990–1991 press releases issued by the then DoT on behalf of VI and included in DoT figures above
  • 1992: 23
  • 1993: 16
  • 1994: 9
  • 1995: 15
  • 1996: 40
  • 1997: 34
  • 1998: 32.

In addition to the above agencies, the DETR has responsibility for 47 non departmental public bodies on whose behalf the Department issues a small number of press releases each year. To provide the information requested for each NDPB individually from the totals issued by DETR since its formation in May 1997, and prior to that from the totals issued by the former Department of the Environment and Department of Transport would be disproportionately costly.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions 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. [71461]

Mr. Meale

[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 documents are in the Libraries of the House.

Press releases are principally issued on my Department's behalf via the Central Office of Information's News Distribution Service. The cost of this service for DETR for the period in question was £111.8k. Figures for DETR staff and postage costs specifically in relation to the issue of press releases are not available.