§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1 May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [84204]
§ Mr. StrawDetailed information on the numbers of permanent civil servants employed in Departmental Press Offices during the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99 was provided in a memorandum dated 16 June 1998 to the Select Committee on Public Administration and published in its report on 'The Government Information and Communication Service' in July 1998. A copy is in the Library.
The numbers in post at 1 May 1999 were 17 plus three trainees.
Special Advisers: In this Department, there are two special advisers; one (Ed Owen) has significant contact with the media but neither are specifically employed in media relations.