§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers were employed in his Department in(a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; and what estimate he has made of the cost in each year. [148507]
§ Fiona Mactaggart[holding answer 19 January 2004]Press office numbers and costs are as outlined as follows:
£ million Number of press officers Cost 2002–03 (1 April 2002) 39 11.7 2003–04 (1 April 2003) 39 21.9 1 Actual. 2 Estimate to end of March 2004.