HC Deb 21 May 2002 vol 386 cc296-7W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [39933]

Mr. Nicholas Brown

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 4 February 2002,Official Report, column 760W.

Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost of running the Department's press office was in(a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available. [46802]

Mr. Nicholas Brown

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in May 2001. This involved the amalgamation of parts of Department for Education and Employment (including the Employment Service) with the Department for Social Security.

The annual running cost for the press office from May 2001 to the end of April 2002 was £1.211 million. This figure includes both salaries and running costs for all press office activity.