§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press officers were employed in his Department in each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04; what the total cost was in each year; and if he will make a statement. [162845]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe cost for all staff employed in the media centre from 1997–98 to 2003–04 is shown in table 1.
Table 1 Cost (£ million) 1997–98 1,062 1998–99 1,239 1999–2000 1,253 2000–01 1,233 2001–02 1,279 2002–03 1,077 2003–04 1,284 Information showing the number of press officers employed by the Department is shown in table 2.
Table 2 Staff 1990–91 11 1991–92 12 1992–93 14 1993–94 14 1994–95 14 1995–96 17 1996–97 17 1997–98 15 1998–99 15 1999–2000 16 2000–01 19 2001–02 22 2002–03 24 2003–04 26 The cost of employing press officers from 1990–91 to 1996–97 could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.