HC Deb 10 March 2003 vol 401 c40W
Sir Sydney Chapman

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the trends in spending on public information by(a) the UK Government and (b) the European Union in the last five years. [101088]

Mr. Alexander

The UK Government have spent the following on advertising in the last five years.

£000s
Cash expenditure Prices in real terms1
1997–98 60, 000 65,800
1998–99 106,000 110, 600
1999–2000 113, 500 114,100
2000–01 192,400 186,600
2001–02 162, 600 162,600
1 In real terms at 2001–02 prices based on advertising media inflation rates.

Source:

COI.

Advertising is used by Departments when they judge it is the most cost effective way of delivering the publicity necessary to support a policy or proposal. These figures represent the advertising commissioned on behalf of Departments and Agencies by the Central Office of Information. The EC budget finances a variety of EU information programmes, the funding amounts for which are decided on an annual basis by the budgetary authority.