To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on employing press officers in each of the last five years. (224863)

The total annual cost (including employer’s costs) of employing press officers in each of the last five years is shown in the following table:

The costs increased in 2006-07 due to the need to employ additional press officers to deal with Olympic issues, following London’s successful bid in July 2005 to host the 2012 games.

Information for 2008-09 has not been included as the current year’s expenditure has not yet been audited.