HC Deb 09 March 2004 vol 418 c1412W
Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (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; [158168]

(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. [158200]

Mr. McNulty

The average number of full-time equivalent staff employed in DfT (central)'s Communication Directorate and the related forecast expenditure for 2003–04 is:

Staff
Press officers Others Total
GICS staff 13.0 29.8 42.8
Other staff 0.8 28.3 29.1
Total 13.8 58.0 7.1.8
£Million
Press officers Others Total
GICS staff 0.62 1.33 1.95
Other staff 0.06 0.97 1.03
Total 0.68 2.30 2.98

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.

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