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Departmental Marketing

Volume 493: debated on Friday 12 June 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in weekly and regional newspapers in each of the last five years. (277156)

Consular communications in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advertised in weekly and regional newspapers as part of its ongoing travel safety campaign for British nationals between April 2005 and March 2009.

These advertorials were placed as part of a targeted and multimedia campaign. Where possible the campaign concentrated on editorial coverage; where advertorial space was bought it was part of a negotiated package and was usually below the standard cost.

Prior to 2007-08 no funds were spent on advertising in weekly and regional newspapers (in this area).

Total spend (£)

2007-08

18,000.00

2008-09

38,300.00

Human resources directorate in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advertises in weekly and regional newspapers for recruitment purposes.

Total spend (£)

2006-07

164,960.62

2007-08

73,574.48

2008-09

18,323.85

Note:

Figures are not available for the financial year 2005-06.

The large reduction in advertising costs over the period for which figures are available is due to a large increase in the use of internet advertising, together with a large reduction in the number of recruitment campaigns from 2006-07 to the present financial year.