The number of Press Officers in Core DEFRA is tabulated, with the census point for the number of Press Officers, taken as June for each year. The staffing numbers for the Press Office fluctuate during the course of any one year.
The figures in the table exclude numbers for ancillary or support staff, but numbers have varied, ranging from 3 to 7 during the review period.
Staff numbers as at June Press Officers 2001 22 2002 22 2003 22 2004 18 2005 24 2006 24 2007 20
The DEFRA Press Office provides services for the Central Science Laboratory, Government Decontamination Service, Marine and Fisheries Agency, Pesticide Safety Directorate, Veterinary Laboratory Agency, and Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
The number of staff employed in the Press Offices of each of the remaining DEFRA agencies of CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences) and the Rural Payments Agency, in each year since 2001 is tabulated, with the number of ancillary support staff in brackets (The RPA did not have any ancillary staff associated with the Press Office).
Agency CEFAS RPA 2001 0.02 0.2 2002 0.03 0.2 2003 0.03 0.2 2004 0.68 0.2 2005 1.0 (0.16) 0.2 2006 1.0 (0.24) 1.0 2007 1.0 2.0
In addition to support from the DEFRA Press Office, Animal Health (formerly the State Veterinary Service) employs a Head of Communications and an External Communications Manager.
The “White Book” of contacts in Government departments and agencies contains listings for DEFRA and is updated twice yearly.