HC Deb 15 June 2000 vol 351 c672W
Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in each year since May 1997. [125688]

Ms Stuart

[holding answer 12 June 2000]The figures for the annual spend on advertising for the Department for the financial years 1997–98 to 1999–2000 are shown in the table.

Financial year Advertising expenditure (£ million)
1997–98 2.27
1998–99 8.63
1999–2000 14.83

The principal increases since 1997–98 are in the following areas:

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000
Blood donation 0.60 1.70 10.22
Nurse recruitment 0.30 4.90 4.21
NHS Direct 0.12 0.78 1.20
Smoking2 0.00 0.00 6.18
Winter campaign 0.00 0.00 1.07
1 The Department's spend on blood donation advertising reduced in 1999–2000 because most of this activity was funded direct by the National Blood Authority
2 Prior to 1999–2000 advertising on smoking was undertaken by the Health Education Authority