§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost of(a) preparation, publication and printing and (b) postage and distribution of "News Update" from his Department; how many copies have been printed; and to whom they have been distributed, in each year since it commenced publication. [121327]
§ Mr. Wicks"News Update" is produced five times a year. Production costs on average £1,300 per issue, including printing. The print run is 3,500 per issue. Since the first issue in November 1998, the total production costs have been £11,700.
"News Update" is distributed to MPs, opposition front-bench spokespersons in the House of Lords, Local Education Authority Chairs and Chief Executives, Trade Union General Secretaries, TEC Chief Executives and internally to senior staff at the DfEE and the Employment Service. Much of the distribution is through the DfEE's internal mail network without quantifiable cost. External postage amounts to about £80 per issue.