HC Deb 23 April 2002 vol 384 c131W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the total real terms expenditure of her Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on publicity in each of the years(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01 and (e) 2001–02 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole of the present year; and if she will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (A) advertising and (B) press and public relations. [36158]

Mr. Morley

As DEFRA was created on the 8 of June 2001 annual retrospective budget expenditure does not exist.

Our records show centrally funded budget expenditure for publicity activities that included advertising, press and public relations, for the period June 2001 till March 2002 totalled £3,196,519, this excludes expenditure relating to publicity and communications support in dealing with the foot and mouth disease crisis.

Further analysis, and information not held centrally for non-departmental public bodies, agencies and decentralised DEFRA budget expenditure could only be supplied at a disproportionate cost.