Vol. 537 No. 2
170 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of people employed in his Department's press office; the estimated annual budget of the office; the estimated cost of public relation consultancy engaged by his Department, showing the figures for 1998-2000; and the estimated costs for 2001. [15893/01]
There are seven people employed in my Department's press and information office and the annual budget is normally about £400,000, mainly to cover expenditure on advertising and printing. This budget will be exceeded this year because of the foot and mouth crisis. No public relations consultancy firms have been engaged by my Department since 1997 with the exception of a consultant engaged specifically to assist in the organisation of my Department's centenary conference in 2000. Other payments indicated in the schedule below are in respect of consultants engaged prior to 1998:
|
Year |
Amount (£) |
|
1995 |
33,224 |
|
1996 |
31,445 |
|
1997 |
25,442 |
|
1998 |
19,972 |
|
1999 |
605 |
|
2000 |
6,500:refers to expenditure in relation to assistance with the organisation of the Department's centenary conference |
|
2001 |
NIL. |
