§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. [71470]
§ Mr. Byers[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 Library of the House.
Since April 1997 my department has spent £399,000 on distributing press releases through the Central Office of Information's News Distribution Service.