§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. [92471]
§ Ms HewittThe number of DTI press releases issued since April 1995 were as follows:
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total 1995 Not available 195 224 246 665 1996 265 231 224 245 965 1997 287 142 194 252 875 1998 212 217 194 272 895 1999 232 258 180 239 909 2000 213 200 181 191 785 2001 175 109 160 185 629 2002 184 193 177 217 771 These quarterly statistics include a number of statutory type announcements (merger clearance, power 596W station consents and company winding up petitions) that the Department is required to issue when individual decisions are made.