HC Deb 27 May 2004 vol 421 cc1828-9W
Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff were employed in the Department to work in the communications field, and what the total expenditure on communications for the Department was, 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, in (A) 1994–95, (B) 1996–97, (C) 1997–98 and (D) 2001–02. [168684]

Mr. Charles Clarke

Available information is set out in the following table.

Number Cost (£)
GICs staff excluding press officers
1994–95 50
1996–97 50
1997–98 43
2001–02 39 1,004,255
GICs press officers
1994–95 20.5
1996–97 19
1997–98 20.5
2001–02 23 1,265,626

There are no press officers from outside the Government Information and Communications Service (GICs). Figures on the number of other non-GICs communications staff and financial data prior to 2001–02 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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.