§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) press officers and (b) special advisers are employed by his Department; what the numbers were in each of the last five years; and what the cost was in each case. [24676]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 8 January 2002]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.
The information requested is shown in the tables.
1063W
Year Numbers Cost (£) Press officers 1996–97 15 1— 1997–98 16 1,061,664
Year Numbers Cost (£) 1998–99 18 1,122,393 1999–2000 21 1,252,509 2000–01 22 1,232,937 Special advisers 1996–97 2 2— 1997–98 2 2— 1998–99 2 2— 1999–2000 2 2— 2000–01 2 2— 1 Details of the costs for press offices are given for the periods 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01. For the period of 1996–97, could be provided only at disproportionate costs. 2 Details of costs for Special Advisers within the individual Departments are not given, in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.