§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
To what extent the Strategic Communications Unit has editorial control of the 10 Downing Street website. [HL1150]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonA member of the Strategic Communications Unit acts as editor for the site. Material is prepared and sub-edited by two other members of the unit. All three are established civil servants.
46WA
§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 17 February, what various reasons other than the improvements to the No. 10 website account for the 35 per cent increase in the running costs of the Strategic Communications Unit. [HL1151]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonI am grateful to the noble Earl for tabling this Question as it allows me to offer my apologies for inaccuracies in the Answer given to him on 31 January (Official Report, col. WA 12) arising from inadequate checking of figures.
The correct figures for the total expenditure of the Strategic Communications Unit are as follows: £77,633 in 1997–98 (during which year the SCU was only functioning for approximately three months); £716,672 in 1998–99; and £839,440 in 1999–2000 (budgeted, not actual expenditure).
The rise between expenditure in 1998–99 and the budget for 1999–2000 is approximately 17 per cent. Of this, approximately 86 per cent is due to the additional costs of the redesign and relaunch of the No. 10 Internet site, including the replacement of outdated computer equipment and the creation of two additional established Civil Service posts.
Excluding website costs, the rise between expenditure in 1998–99 and the budget for 1999–2000 is 2.3 per cent. There are several reasons for this rise, including a rise in other pay costs due to annual pay increases and the upgrading of one post from Band A to SCS; an increase in spending on books and magazines; and an increase in travel and subsistence costs.
§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
What proportion of the Strategic Communications Unit's annual running costs can be attributed to the input to the unit by special advisers. [HL1152]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThere are two special advisers employed in the Strategic Communications Unit. To provide the information requested by the noble Earl would enable an estimate to be made of their salaries. In line with the practice of previous administrations, the salaries of individual special advisers are not disclosed as this would breach the privacy of the individuals concerned. The only exceptions are the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, the Prime Minister's Chief Press Secretary and the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator, whose salaries are outside the special adviser three-band pay structure.
§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the comments made by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 16 February (H.L. Deb., col. 1220), whether the Strategic Communications Unit is bound by the same guidelines that apply to the 47WA Government Information and Communications Service. [HL1153]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe Strategic Communications Unit is subject to theGuidance on the Work of the Government Information and Communication Service and the Civil Service Code.
§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied that the Strategic Communications Unit, in common with the Government Information and Communications Service, is an effective and honourable part of the Civil Service (H.L. Deb., 16 February, col. 1220). [HL1154]
§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
What role the Strategic Communications Unit has in respect of the dissemination of government information; and how the role complements the work of the Government Information and Communications Service. [HL1155]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe role of the Strategic Communications Unit and the way in which that role complements the work of the Government Information and Communications Service is set out in the Mountfield report on the Government Information Service, published in November 1997.