HC Deb 22 January 2003 vol 398 c348W
Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press releases have been issued by her Department in each(a) year and (b) quarter from 1995–96 to 2002–03; and if she will make a statement. [92459]

Alun Michael

Defra was created in June 2001. All press releases are available on the Defra website (www.defra.gov.uk). Numbers issued are as follows:

Number
2001
June-end September 1159
October-end December 163
Total 322
2002
January-end March 127
April-end June 129
July-end September 134
October-end December 148
Total 538
1First Defra release issued 14 June

Retrospective identification and enumeration of the press releases issued prior to June 2001, by the Home Office, the former DETR and MAFF press offices on policy subjects now covered by Defra would be available only at disproportionate cost.

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