To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by his Department during 1991–92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each (a) the topic, (b) the commencement date, (c) the duration and (d) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.
[holding answer 5 November 1991]: One television campaign has been carried out by the Department in 1991–92 for family credit. A television campaign explaining the new disability benefits being introduced next April is still at the planning stage. Budget provision exists for a further campaign on family credit but no detailed plans have been made.The following campaigns will cost more than £100,000:
| Topic | Commencement date | Duration |
| Family credit | 2 September 1991 | Five weeks |
| Disability | to be confirmed | to be confirmed |
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.
[holding answer 5 November 1991]: The Department has not sent out unsolicited direct mail to individuals as part of the distribution of publicity material.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–92 and budgets for 1992–93.
[holding answer 5 November 1991]: For information from 1979–80 to 1980–91, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 25 April 1991 at columns 540–41.For 1991–92 and 1992–93 the information is as follows:The total estimated outturn for publicity in 1991–92 is £12·27 million. Of this £4·4 million has been allocated to advertising.
| Department of Social Security (other than Benefits Agency) 1991–92 | |
| £ million | |
| Television, radio and press (final allocation between media has not yet been made). | 4·4 |
| Other materials | 7·87 |
| Benefits Agency 1991–92 | |
| £ million | |
| Television, radio and newspaper advertising | None planned |
| Information material (such as leaflets and posters) | 4·8 |
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1991–92 and budget for 1992–93.
[holding answer 5 November 1991]: Functions commonly associated with press and public relations are carried out by the Department's information division and the Benefits Agency information services branch.For information for the years 1979–91, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 22 May 1991 at column
535.
Discussions on the proposed 1992–93 budgets are not yet complete. The estimated expenditure for 1991–92 is in the tables:
£ million
| |
Headquarters and agencies other than Benefits Agency
| |
| Publicity | 12·270 |
| Staff | 0·653 |
| Running costs | 0·451 |
Benefits Agency
| |
| Publicity | 7·829 |
| Staff | 1·070 |
| Running costs | 0·226 |