§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [113968]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 10 March 2000]: The Treasury press office does not use couriers to distribute press releases. Press releases are distributed by the Central Office of Information (COI) through fax and electronic means. However, before the financial year 1999–2000, couriers were used to deliver releases to COI, who would then use their various delivery methods. The costs for the period from 2 May 1997, until the Treasury abandoned this practice in the financial year 1999–2000 and decided to rely on electronic means, are as follows:
190W1997/98—229 press releases at £40 per distribution totalling £9,160 (from 2 May till the end of the financial year);
1998/99—269 press releases at £50 per distribution which totalled £13,450.
Couriers would now be used only in exceptional circumstances and do not form a regular press office cost.
§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [113994]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 10 March 2000]: The Treasury distributes its new releases by fax and electronic means through the Central Office of Information (COI). The COI issues releases to organisations held on mailing lists that have developed over time. Distribution will vary according to the subject concerned. Since there are over 2,000 organisations on the lists, it is not possible to re-organise them into national, regional, local newspapers and media bodies without incurring disproportionately high costs.