§ Mr. LansleyTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many press releases were issued by her Department in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) this year to date; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of these press releases was in each year. [132745]
906W
§ Mr. StringerThe total number of press releases issued each calendar year by my Department is as follows:(a) 189 in 1997; (b) 277 in 1998; (c) 343 in 1999; and (d) 204 in the year to date (until the end of May).
The figures for 1999 and 2000 include press releases issued by the Year 2000 Media Co-ordination Unit which also operated from the Cabinet Office.
The total net cost of issuing these press notices is as follows: (a) £11,758.25 in 1997; (b) £25,136.97 in 1998; (c) £44,854.37 in 1999; and (d) £29,037.09 in the year to date (until the end of May).
From 1 April 1998 the Department started to use the Central Office of Information's News Distribution Service to issue press releases directly and quickly to fax machines. While the system is considerably faster and more efficient it is also more expensive. Prior to this system press releases were issued by post and the costs were met centrally within the Department.
The costs of producing a press notice are not recorded separately and are part of the routine duties of departmental press officers.