HC Deb 01 April 2004 vol 419 c1684W
Matthew Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many staff are employed in the Department to work in the communications field, broken down by(a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others; [158153]

(2) what the total expenditure on communications for the Department has been in 2003–04, broken down by expenditure on (a) Government Information and Communications Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers.(ii) special advisers and (iii) others. [158204]

Ruth Kelly

The Treasury currently employs nine press officers to work on communications, of which seven are GIGS staff, and one Special Adviser, and thirteen other members of staff to work on Treasury publications, managing the Treasury's external website, and related administration.

The total expenditure for these staff to date in 2003–04 is set out in the following table:

£
GIGS staff costs 340,270
Other press officer costs 127,175
Other staff costs 368,585

Details of the costs of Special Advisers are given on an annual basis and information for the financial year 2003–04 will be published in due course.