HC Deb 18 May 1999 vol 331 c308W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [84202]

Mr. Michael

Detailed 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 to the Select Committee on Public Administration and published in its report, "The Government Information and Communication Service" (HC 770) in July 1998. A copy is in the Library of the House. The numbers in post at 1 May are 13.

Special Advisers in this Department have ad hoc contact with the media but none are specifically employed in media relations.