§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Leader of the House (1) how many staff are employed in the Office 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; [158159]
(2) what the total expenditure on communications for his Office has been in 2003–04, broken down by expenditure on (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others. [158206]
§ Mr. HainThe information requested is as follows:
Expenditure in 2003–04 £ GICs 0 Press Officers 10 Special Advisers 2— Others 341,348 1My Office does not employ any GICs staff or Press Officers directly. Press Office services are provided by the Cabinet Office at no charge. 2 The Special Advisers' Code of Conduct sets out the sort of work a special adviser may undertake on behalf of their Minister. This includes communications activity. Details of the costs of Special Advisers are given on an annual basis. Information for the financial year 2003–04 will be published in due course. 3 Cost of development and hosting of a new website. This work is contracted out by this Office.