HC Deb 13 February 2004 vol 418 cc29-30W
Mr. Curry

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by his Department in each year since 1997. [146026]

Yvette Cooper

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. The press office provides a centralised media service on behalf of ODPM(c). At 1 April 2003, there were 21.8 full time equivalent press officers.

Mr. Curry

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Audit Commission in each year since 1997. [146027]

Yvette Cooper

The information requested is as follows.

(a) The Audit Commission used an external consultancy for Press Officers until October 2001, up to that time the Commission did not directly employ Press officers. The Commission employed Press Officers from the following dates:

1 April 2002–6

1 April 2003–7

The Audit Commission used an external consultancy for Public Relation officers until 1999. Since then this work has been handled by in-house staff and/or outside consultancies. Since 1999 the role has involved the equivalent of one full-time job. As from February 2004 the Press Officer/Public Relation Officer roles will be combined and will result in a total of seven employees.

Mr. Curry

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Housing Corporation in each year since 1997. [146028]

Yvette Cooper

Since 1999, as at 1 April, the Housing Corporation has employed a Head of Communications and one full-time Communications/Media Officer.

expenditure on periodicals, including newspapers, by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the period from formation until 31 March 2003 was £300,072, and for 1 April until 22 December 2003 was £237,371.

This breaks down as follows:

Mr. Curry

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by English Partnerships in each year since 1997. [146029]

Yvette Cooper

Since 1999–2000, English Partnerships have employed a total of six press officers and no public relations officers. Records for earlier periods are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Curry

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Standards Board for England in each year since 1997. [146030]

Yvette Cooper

The Standards Board for England was set up in 2001. It currently employs two officers supported by an administrator who provide a service to the press in addition to other general communications duties such as organising events.

Mr. Curry

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Boundary Commission for England in each year since 1997. [146035]

Yvette Cooper

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. Since then no press officers or public relation officers have been employed by the Boundary Commission for England.

Mr. Curry

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Boundary Commission for Wales in each year since 1997. [146036]

Yvette Cooper

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. Since then no press officers or public relations officers have been employed by the Boundary Commission for Wales.

Mr. Curry

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Residential Property Tribunal Service in each year since 1997. [146037]

Yvette Cooper

None.

Mr. Curry

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) press officers and (b) public relations officers were employed by the Valuation Tribunals in each year since 1997. [146038]

Yvette Cooper

The Valuation Tribunals have never employed press or public relation officers.