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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many copies of Rural Standards Review 2004 were printed; what the cost was of the (a) printing and (b) preparation, including design and writing of the review; how many copies were distributed (i) unsolicited and (ii) otherwise; at what cost in each case; and how many earlier editions of the review have been produced. [197724] Alun Michael: The Rural Services Review, published on 1 November 2004, continues the commitment from the Rural White Paper "Our Countryside: the future" to inform rural people how they can ensure fair access to public services for their community. The Rural Services Review replaces the Rural Services Standard, a more formal and "official" document that was published in 2002 and 2003. It has already resulted in considerable positive responses at regional and local level, often in respect of examples quoted in the text which show how policies are often being delivered very successfully in rural areas. Our purpose is to spread good practice about "what works" and to stimulate innovation in rural areas. The total cost of production and distribution of the Rural Services Review is set out in the following table: Cost of Rural Services Review _________________________________________________________________________________________________. £ Supplier Final Spend (+ vat) Design Stairway Communications 9,814 plus 383 Total = 10,197 Print (50,000 run) 17,800 (no vat charged) Distribution RSR Solicited--90 114,000 Unsolicited--30, 136 Copywriting COI 15,540 Photography Various 13,315 Proof reading COI 324 Staff costs 222,864 Total 184,040 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 These costs are based upon estimates as final invoices have not yet been received. 2 Defra staff costs for this project were £22,864. This figure is based upon average pay rates, by grade and location and includes accommodation overheads. The total production, distribution and staff costs give a unit cost for the Rural Services Review of £1.68 a copy. The Rural Services Review came about as a consequence of the evaluation of the Rural Services Standard, which took place during 2003. The review builds upon the recommendations of the independent evaluation report produced by the University of Gloucester. A copy of this report is available on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/rural/pdfs/ rss review.pdf. The Rural Services Review identifies key standards that affect people living and working in the countryside and illustrates the difference the standards can make, through the use of case studies. Copies of the review are available through Defra publications (08459 556000) or online at www.defra.gov.uk/rural/services.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

197724; 426 c1256-7W;426 c1260-1W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Costs Publications Publishing Rural Services Review

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk