HC Deb 10 March 2000 vol 345 c836W
Mr. Brady

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000 what was(a) the number of occasions on which couriers were used to distribute news releases from his Department and (b) the total cost of using couriers to distribute news releases. [113967]

Mr. Lock

My Department did not use any couriers to distribute news releases over the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000. LCD press notices are distributed to the media by e-mail, fax and post. LCD press notices for matters other than judicial appointments are placed on the Central Office of Information's (COI) press notice website and are given wide electronic distribution by the news distribution service which is also managed by the COI.

Mr. Brady

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the(a) national, (b) regional and (c) local newspapers and media bodies to which his Department sent news releases during the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000. [113993]

Mr. Lock

Over the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000 my Department issued 1,062 press notices. Targeted distribution relies on the subject and content of each specific press release. Provision of the distribution lists for all press notices issued over the period could only be undertaken at disproportionate cost.

All LCD press notices for matters other than judicial appointments are placed on the Central Office of Information's (COI) press notice website and are given wide electronic distribution by the news distribution service which is also managed by the COI.