Written question asked by Desmond Swayne (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 12 February 2002. It was answered by Lord Moonie (Labour) on Tuesday, 12 February 2002 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Buckingham of 28th January 2002, 379 c21W, on departmental expenditure, if he will make a statement about the increase in his departmental expenditure on commercial and HMSO publications since 1997-98. - Including figure.

Answer: Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) of 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 21W, on departmental expenditure, if he will make a statement about the increase in his departmental expenditure on commercial and HMSO publications since 1997-98. [32286] Dr. Moonie: Procurement of newspapers, magazines and periodicals is not managed centrally. Instead it is cascaded to budget holders. Therefore the reason for and decision to procure is left to budget holders with the requirement that such purchases should be properly scrutinised, accounted for and undertaken in the most cost-effective manner. The 2000-01 outturn is atypical. Expenditure in 2001-02 is currently expected to be £7.5 million, which is very much in line with 1999-2000 outturn. But, given varying requirements, some fluctuation in this area of expenditure from year to year is to be expected as can be seen from patterns of previous expenditure.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 32286; 380 c173W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Expenditure Press Publications Newspaper press Magazine press Ministry of Defence Serials TSO
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk