To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by his Department on public relations in each of the last five years. (139428)

With regard to public relations expenditure incurred by Defra's Communications Directorate over the last five years, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for North Thanet (Mr. Gale) on 6 March 2006, Official Report, columns 1074-75W.

Further to this, in the financial year 2006/07 public relations expenditure for activity conducted via the Department's central Communications Directorate's procurement arrangements was as follows:

Inclusion of non-centralised Defra spend, inclusive of agencies and NDPBs, would incur disproportionate cost.