§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. [84200]
§ Mr. ByersDetailed information on the number of permanent civil servants employed in Departmental Press Offices during the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99 was provided in a memorandum to the Select Committee on Public Administration and published in its report on the 'The Government Information and Communication Service (HC770)' in July 1998, which is in the Library of the House. The number in post on 1 May 1999 was 21.
Special Advisers in this department have ad hoc contact with the media but none are specifically employed in media relations.