§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by her Department on(a) advertising and (b) public relations consultants in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) in the latest year for which figures are available. [186014]
§ Alun MichaelThe Department does not maintain separate records of its expenditure for advertising and promotional literature. The expenditure for publicity by Defra's Communications Directorate, includes marketing, advertising, publications, events, shows and direct mailings, and is recorded for the financial years since Defra's creation in June 2001 as follows:
£ million 2001–02 6.6 2002–03 4.7 2003–04 2.5 This includes communications on a wide range of matters, much of it necessary or beneficial to the public and the wide range of industries in which Defra has an interest, together with local government, voluntary organisations and other bodies.
Figures on expenditure on public relations consultants by all sections of Defra are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. There has been no expenditure on public relations consultancy by the Defra's Communications Directorate since the Department was set up. Some firms which include public relations activities among the range of services they provide to clients have been employed by some sections of Defra, but not primarily for that purpose.