Written question asked by Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 17 July 1997. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Thursday, 17 July 1997 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: How much her Department spends on biking press releases to (a) honourable Members and (b) other individuals or groups, each time her Department issues a press release; how many such press releases were issued by her Department (i) in the period 1st May to 1st July and (ii) in the period 1st January to 1st March; and if she will review her Department's use of couriers to deliver press releases and investigate the possibility of using fax or e-mail.

Answer: Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spends on biking press releases to (a) hon. Members and (b) other individuals or groups, each time her Department issues a press release; how many such press releases were issued by her Department (i) in the period 1 May to 1 July and (ii) in the period 1 January to 1 March; and if she will review her Department's use of couriers to deliver press releases and investigate the possibility of using fax or e-mail. [8819] Ms. Short: My department does not use a biking service for any of its press releases. They are sent by fax, post and through the Central Office of Information's News Delivery Sevice. Nine press releases were issued in this way between 1 January and 1 March 1997 and 12 between 1 May and 1 July.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 8819; 298 c253W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Department for International Development Government departments Facsimile transmission Email Public expenditure Press releases Courier services
Contains statistics: Yes