§ Norman LambTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much producing his Department's latest Annual Report cost; how many copies were printed; how many copies of it were sold at its cover price; to whom copies of the report have been provided free of charge; and how many copies were provided free of charge. [90879]
§ Dr. MoonieProduction of the Ministry of Defence's annual Performance Report 2001–02 (Cm 5661) drew on performance management information collected within the Department for a variety of purposes. Its production involved a large number of people across the Department, and it is not therefore possible to calculate the cost without incurring disproportionate expense.
Decisions on print runs are a commercial matter for The Stationery Office Limited (TSO), who handle publication of the Report and who meet the costs of printing and publication.
829WThe Ministry of Defence bought 650 copies and an electronic version from TSO at a cost of £8,536.25. All of the MOD's copies are distributed free of charge, the majority within the Department, but about 175 to other Government Departments, other nations, Parliament or the Press. ISO inform me that, as at 21 January 2003, they had sold a further 234 copies. The Report is also available on the MOD website (www.mod.uk).