§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total expenditure and the breakdown of expenditure was in his Department for the financial years(a) 1996–97. (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000, and what the planned expenditure and breakdown of expenditure for 2000–01 is on (i) public opinion research, (ii) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (iii) direct mail. [149259]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 8 February 2001]: (i) Public Opinion Research: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 17 December 1998, Official Report, column 721W. In the present financial year, the FCO has spent £43,000 on preliminary public opinion research on consular matters.
(ii) TV. Radio and Newspaper advertising: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 17 December 1998, Official Report, column 721W, and to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 9 January 2001, Official Report, column 504W. There have been no further consular publicity campaigns on TV or Radio or in the newspapers. The FCO has advertised in the region of 200–250 recruitment campaigns since 279W 1996. It would involve disproportionate costs to establish a breakdown of expenditure. The European Union Command advertised its Europe Day 2000 in Metro at a cost of £8,539.
(iii) Direct mail: Since the answer given to the hon. Member on 17 December 1998, Official Report, column 721W, approximately £200 has been spent on direct mail by the European Union Command.