HC Deb 14 March 2002 vol 381 cc1180-1W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were employed in a press or public relations function in his Department on 1 January in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002. [39936]

Dr. Moonie

The number of people employed in a press or public relations function in the central corporate communications organisation of the Ministry of Defence is shown in the following table:

Date Number of staff
1 January 1998 33
1 January 1999 34
1 January 2000 47
1 January 2001 45
1 January 2002 54

Note:

the figure for 1 January 1997 is no longer available.

The permanent joint headquarters, the single services, agencies and regional defence press offices also employ personnel in the press and public relations function, many in a secondary role to their main task. Accurate figures for these could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press releases were issued by his Department(a) between 1 May and 31 December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive. [40030]

Dr. Moonie

The Ministry of Defence press office issues all press releases on defence policy matters. The information is shown in the following table:

Press releases issued
1 May to 31 December 1997 161
1998 202
1999 276
2000 238
2001 150

The single services, agencies and regional defence press offices issue their own press releases. They also re-issue some defence policy press releases for local distribution. Accurate figures, which take account of any "duplicate" releases, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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