§ Mr. LansleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many press releases have been issued so far this year; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of press releases was in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 to date. [132783]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions have issued 455 press releases until the end of June this year. This is a 28 per cent. drop from the same time last year.
The total cost of the production and issuing of press releases in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 to date is as follows:
Year Number of press releases Total costs(£000) DoT/DoE/DETR 1997 853 81,101.78 DETR 1998 1,121 56,948.92 DETR 1999 1,248 62,380.38 DETR 2000 1455 33,839.60 1 Figure at end of June