§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total cost of running the Department's press office was in(a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available. [46805]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The total cost of running FCO's News Department in 2000–01 was £1,746,000. Comparable information for 1996–97 is not held as new costing software was introduced during the course of that year. The total cost for 1995–96 was £971,000 and for 1997–98 was £1,342,000.