§ Dr. CableTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the salary costs to the Department were for employees working in public relations and publicity in each year since 1997. [183856]
§ John HealeyThe Treasury currently has a communications team consisting of a press office and a publishing and internet branch.
The press office manages the Treasury's and Treasury Ministers' communications with the media. For information on salary costs, I refer the hon. gentleman to the answer by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell on 30 June 2004, Official Report, column 286W.
The publishing and internet branch manages the Treasury's formal publications of documents and other material, and maintains its public internet site. Total basic salaries for that branch were £268,000 for 2001–02, £314,000 for 2002–03 and £236,000 for 2003–04. Comparable figures for previous years are not available.