To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department, its predecessor and its agencies spent on staff working on (a) marketing and (b) branding in the last 12 month period for which figures are available. (167303)

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was created as a result of machinery of government changes on 28 June 2007. Since that date the Department has spent an estimated total of £9,000 on staff involved in branding and £191,788.04 on marketing staff.

The National Weights and Measures Laboratory in the last 12 months has spent an estimated £3,750 on marketing activities. Much of this, but not all, is devoted to marketing specific services to business such as type approval and certification.

There has not been any staff effort on branding.

In the 12 months to 29 February 2008 the UK-IPO spent no staff time on branding. While the office does not use staff to directly market its services it did spend £636,600 on raising awareness, education and informing groups about the IP system which touch on the services offered by the UK-IPO and other national and international bodies.