---

Dept for Education and Employment

Answer

Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much his Department spends on biking press releases to (a) hon. Members and (b) other individuals or groups, each time his Department issues a press release; how many such press releases were issued by his Department (i) in the period 1 May to 1 July and (ii) in the period 1 January to 1 March; and if he will review his Department's use of couriers to deliver press releases and investigate the possibility of using fax or e-mail. [8823] Dr. Howells: The Department's press releases are made available to hon. Members and to the media via the Central Office of Information's News Distribution Service (NDS). NDS's delivery mechanisms include a newswire service which, among others, supplies press releases to the Parliamentary Online Information Service (POLIS) which can be accessed by all MPs and Lords. Other methods include a van service to all national media, fax retrieval system and a widely accessed Web site on the internet. These mechanisms are used either singly or in combination to ensure the most cost-effective methods are used to reach the media and to suit the nature of the documents e.g. whether press releases are despatched on their own, or accompanied by reports, consultation documents etc; no separate costing is available for the van delivery service alone. My Department issued 57 press releases between 1 January and 1 March and 86 press releases between 1 May and 1 July. My Media Relations Division and COI keep a watching brief on new developments to ensure the most cost-effective delivery mechanisms are used at all times.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

8823; 298 c314W

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Government departments Facsimile transmission Email Public expenditure Department for Education and Employment Press releases Courier services

Contains statistics

Yes