§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) full time equivalents were employed by his press office and (b) secondees were placed in his press office in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [70541]
§ Mr. BlunkettI would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner) on 20 March 2002,Official Report, column 397W which detailed the number of press officers employed during the years 1997 to 2002.
Records of secondees to the press office are not routinely kept as often they are at nil cost to the Department and may only be for periods of six weeks. The press office has had over the period of time in question a number of fast stream policy officials and immigration officers on attachments to the press office, usually for periods of around six months.