The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002. Total payments coded as expenditure for magazines, newspapers and other publications in the Department's accounting systems since this date are recorded as follows:
£ 2002-03 155,654 2003-04 84,884 2004-05 68,447 2005-06 553,881 2006-07 277,389 2007-08 302,267 2008-09 to date 217,144
Magazines, newspapers and other publications are purchased to support the day to day activity of the Department. Professional journals and other trade publications are purchased to support professional activities and specialist activities such as civil engineering and contract work, the work of the Department's legal services, marine engineering activity. The ‘other publications’ category includes a wide range of types and may include one-off purchases.
It should be noted that the totals for 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05 show the position for the Vehicle Certification Agency and Maritime and Coastguard Agency only. The remainder of the Department could provide this information only at disproportionate cost for these years.
The totals from 2005-06 onwards include all but the data from the Government Car and Despatch Agency and the Driving Standards Agency who could provide this information only at disproportionate cost.
From 2006-07 the central Department introduced a revised coding structure. Prior to this it was not possible to separate expenditure on books and purchases of other official material. The total for 2005-06 therefore includes this expenditure.
The figure provided by the Highways Agency for 2005-06 also includes publications purchased and recorded against specific road projects.