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Mr. Bercow
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people are employed in her Department's press office; and how many were employed on 2 May 1997. [108405]
Alun Michael
Defra was formed in June 2001. As at 14 April 2003 the staff complement of the press office was 22 press officers and five support staff. Information on the numbers employed in equivalent press office posts in the departments that previously dealt with Defra's policies and activities would not provide an accurate comparison and could only be achieved at disproportionate cost.