HC Deb 23 July 2002 vol 389 cc999-1000W
Mr. Beith

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost was of publishing his Department's annual report and those of the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions in each of the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown of the costs incurred. [70104]

Mr. Raynsford

Before June 2002, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was part of the Cabinet Office, and its expenditure and work were therefore not separately reported. The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions was created in June 2001, from the former Department of the Environment,

Transport and the Regions (DETR). The publication costs of the DETR Annual Reports for 1998–2000 can be identified only at disproportionate cost; those for the 2000–01 report were approximately £5,200. The final publication costs for the DTLR report for 2001–02, which was published last month are not yet known. I will write to the right hon. Member with the details when they are available.