Written question asked by Lord Pickles (Conservative) on Tuesday, 17 October 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 October 2006. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 November 2006 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Departmental Expenditure

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which (a) public relations and (b) marketing firms have been hired by her Department and its predecessor since 2002; what the total expenditure was on each firm; and for what purpose each agency was hired.

Answer: Since 2002 the following public relations have been hired by the Department and its predecessors:"Amazon PR working on the registration of Houses of Multiple Occupancy expenditure spent to date of £90,000. The aim of the campaign is to encourage landlords to become registered and in the long term to improve the quality of properties in the rented sector.""Band and Brown working on the promotion of Home Information Packs with expenditure to date of £56,000. The aim of this activity is to raise awareness of the introduction of the packs in June 2007 among the public and industry.""Blue Rubicon working on the promotion of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme with expenditure to date of £46,000. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness among tenants and landlords of their obligations under the Housing Act 2004.""The Central Office of Information (COI) working on Fire Safety with a total spend of £648,000. This ongoing campaign is helping to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries caused by fires in the home."Robson Brown was the only marketing firm hired by the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister working on the Elected Regional Assemblies awareness campaign with a total spend of £205,000. All other public relations and marketing activity was carried out by the Department.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 451 c1566W; 95899
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Marketing Public relations Department for Communities and Local Government
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk