§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many press releases have been issued by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71447]
§ Mr. Fatchett[holding answer 16 February 1999]1,028 FCO press releases have been issued by the COI since the COI began distributing press releases on the FCO's behalf in 1995. Between 1990 and 1995 1,223 press releases were issued by the FCO direct. The year by year breakdown is as follows:
Year Number 1990 263 1991 221 1992 182 1993 197 1994 180 1995 200 1996 207 1997 296 1998 325 In respect of FCO Agencies and non-departmental public bodies I am asking the Chief Executives of those bodies to write to the hon. Member direct.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [71462]
§ Mr. Fatchett[holding answer 16 February 1999]The conventions governing the propriety and cost of press releases issued by Governments Departments are laid down in the Guidance on the work of the Government Information Service published by the Cabinet Office in 199W July 1997. More specific guidance on the writing of press releases is given in the Working Guide for Government Information Officers. Copies of both documents are in the libraries of the House.
The primary means by which the FCO issues press releases is the News Distribution Service of the COI. Since May 1997 the COI has charged the FCO £44,067.39 for this service. No records are kept for subsidiary costs, such as faxing and postage of press releases direct by the FCO to any applicants.
In respect of FCO Agencies and non-departmental public bodies, I am asking the Chief Executives of those bodies to write to the hon. Member direct.