HC Deb 14 July 2003 vol 409 cc89-90W
Mr. Dodds

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost is of the press offices of each department in Northern Ireland. [123956]

Mr. Paul Murphy

The costs of the NIO press office and the press offices of each of the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland administration for the financial year 2003 are as follows:

Department £
N10 1,877,494.31
OFMDFM 1,145,463.02
DARD 229,487.58
DCAL 111,480.29
DE 198,343.96
DEL 185,700.00
DETI 187,000.00
DOE 194,000.00
DFP 150,455.00
DHSSPS 291,725.00
DRD 156,000.00
DSD 267,250.00

The figure for OFMDFM includes costs associated with the co-ordination and corporate service functions in support of the Executive Information Service across the 11 Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments. For example all press releases for NI Departments are despatched through OFMDFM.