HC Deb 19 December 2001 vol 377 cc478-9W
Annabelle Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total expenditure was on(a) advertising, (b) polling, (c) focus groups, (d) design consultants, (e) caterers, (f) production of departmental publications and (g) photographs/photographers by his Department for each year since 1995 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms; what was (A) the annual percentage increase in spending on each category and (B) spending on each category as a percentage of the total departmental running costs; and if he will make a statement. [6926]

Mr. Blunkett

The Government are committed to using only whatever channel is judged to be the most cost-effective way to deliver the publicity necessary to support the implementation of policy.

The following table sets out the Department's expenditure on advertising, caterers and production of departmental publications from 1996–97 to 2000–01. Expenditure for 1995–96 is not available.

Expenditure on polling, focus groups, design consultants and photographs/photographers is not readily identifiable and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

1996–97 7997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01
Caterers (£) 2,909.10 2,738.50 2,888.00 3,146.60 2,823.70
Percentage of departmental running costs 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1
Expressed in real terms at 2000–01 levels (£) 3,206.30 2,935.00 3,009.30 3,205.80 2,823.70