Mr. John Stonborough

HC Deb 18 January 2002 vol 378 cc487-8W

Peter Bottomley

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when and for what purpose Mr. John Stonborough was engaged by the House of Commons Commission; what the selection process was; and when the need for advice on media relations was identified. [27263]

Mr. Kirkwood

Mr. Stonborough was engaged with effect from 20 December 2001 to provide the House of Commons Commission with advice on media relations generally, and on long-term information strategy. The commission chose him at its meeting on 18 December 2001. The need for a corporate approach to media matters was identified in the Braithwaite Review of Management and Services (HC745) published in July 1999. This led to the appointment of a communications adviser in the Office of the Clerk in 2000. Mr. Stonborough's engagement represents a further step in that direction.