HC Deb 15 March 2000 vol 346 cc199-200W
Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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 her Department and (b) the total cost of using couriers to distribute news releases. [113979]

Clare Short

We do not use couriers to distribute news releases.

Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the(a) national, (b) regional and (c) local newspapers and media bodies to which her Department sent news releases during the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000. [113990]

Clare Short

We do not keep records of all newspapers or media bodies to which press releases are sent, and it would be disproportionately expensive to seek to identify a full list. However, departmental press releases are available to the press through the News Distribution Service managed by the COI, and are also available through our internet site. More targeted distribution of press releases varies depending on the subject and content of the press release involved.