§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on press and advertising campaigns in 2001–02; and what the planned expenditure is for 2002–03. [60901]
§ Mr. MorleyI refer the honourable member to my earlier replies given to him on 26 March,Official Report, columns 828–89W, and to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Alex Salmond) on 18 July, Official Report, column 474W.
The centralised budget allocation for DEFRA's Communications Directorate publicity group for the financial year 2002–03 is £4.lmillion.
The process of allocating funds within this budget for expenditure on media advertising and campaigns is structured to be flexible and responsive to changing priorities. Each project is evaluated, and a budget estimated and costed, on a case by case basis, except for those instances when UK statutes or EU directives require that press and advertising campaigns should be undertaken.