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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost was of producing and distributing the Rural Services Review, including staff time allocated to the project. [195277] 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 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 (£) (plus VAT) Design Stairway Communications 9,814 plus 383 total = 10,197 Print (50,000 run) 17,800 (no VAT charged) Distribution (of 30,000 copies) 114,000 Copywriting COI 15,540 Photography Total 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 http://defraweb/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

195277; 426 c583W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Costs Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Documents Publications Public service Publishing Rural areas Rural Services Review

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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