Written question asked by Tim Loughton (Conservative) on Monday, 25 March 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 23 April 2002. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 April 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 12th March, Official Report, column 1062W, on press officers, why he is not able to provide cost details for press officers in 1996-97; and if his figures for press officer numbers refer to full time working equivalents. - Includes figures. (Holding answer 10 April 2002).

Answer: Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 12 March 2002, Official Report, column 1062-63W, on press officers, why he is not able to provide cost details for press officers in 1996-97; and if his figures for press officer numbers refer to full-time working equivalents. [47528] Ms Blears: [holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Department's staffing cost information for the Press and Publicity Division for 1996-97 does not separately identify the cost of press office or individual press officers. This level of detail has only been available since 1997-98. The total cost of the Press and Publicity Division for 1996-97 was £2.3 million. Press officer numbers refer to full-time working equivalents, except for 1999-2000 when two members of staff were part-time.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 47528; 384 c241W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Costs Pay Staff Part-time employment Department of Health Information officers
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk