HC Deb 16 January 2003 vol 397 cc778-9W
Mr. Djanogly

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many departmental Christmas cards he and his Ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost(a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he has sent this year. [88104]

Jane Kennedy

The total number of Christmas cards sent by the Secretary of State and his Ministers is 3,480 at a cost of £2,582.56.

Of this total 1,623 were sent by first class post at a cost of £767.00.

1,857 were sent by the internal mail service, no cost incurred.

Approximately 20 hours was spent in staff time in undertaking this work (information previously held on Christmas card lists reduced the time spent on this exercise). The Secretary of State and his Ministers personally signed all cards.

A sample copy of the official 2002 Christmas cards will be placed in the Library.