§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many(a) special advisers and (b) press officers have been employed by her Department in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and at what cost in each year. [92468]
§ Dr. HowellsThe number of press officers employed by DCMS in each year from 1997–98 to 2002–03 (at 1 April in each year) and their remuneration is as follows.
Date Number Remuneration (£) 1997 8 227,207 1998 19 207,619 1999 8 236,150 2000 9 245,039 2001 8 265,631 2002 10 275,177 1 Includes two staff working part-time. Financial and Human Resource information for periods prior to, and including 1996–97 is not held on the Department's databases and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
With regard to the number of Special Advisers employed by DCMS in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03 I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 31 January 2003, Official Report, columns 1056–57W.