Written question asked by Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 7 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 December 2005. It was answered by Jane Kennedy (Labour) on Tuesday, 17 January 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Media Monitoring

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library copies of (a) print and (b) broadcast media monitoring undertaken for her Department since 2002.

Answer: The current arrangements for regular national and regional media monitoring and analysis started in late 2004. The Department monitors the print media only in the regional media. A small proportion of the national broadcast media is monitored but the large majority of media monitoring covers the print media only.Over the summer of 2005, a summary of media coverage for December 2004 was published as part of the Department's communications research publication scheme under the freedom of information (FOI). Officers considered the merits of different methods of publication for all the research, including the Department's Library and its website. The Department's website was chosen as the most cost-effective method and the best fit with FOI requirements.The Department has committed to publishing summaries of its communications research every six months. The next publication date is February 2006. This will include summaries of media analysis from January to June 2005. Copies of the December 2004 analysis has been placed in the Library.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 36975; 441 c1303W
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Deposited Paper DEP 06/189
Tuesday, 17 January 2006
Deposited papers
House of Commons
Subjects: Government departments Media Research Department of Health
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk