To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many persons his Department (a) employed directly and (b) engaged as external contractors to work on press and public relations matters in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each such year; (285465)

The available information is shown in the following tables.

Figures exclude social security and pension costs. We are unable to give figures for 2008-09 as they have not yet been audited.

These figures only relate to activity by the Communications directorate and not to other areas of the Department as this would incur disproportionate cost.

It is not possible to include figures for non departmental public bodies as these figures are not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the rules on movements of his Department’s staff to commercial companies under the business appointments procedures. (286636)

Rules on civil servants taking up outside business appointments are published in the Civil Service Management Code (section 4.3) which can be found at:

www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/work/codes/csmc/index.aspx

Section 4.3 Annex A contains the full guidance on accepting outside business appointments. The Department complies fully with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code in ensuring adherence to the business appointments procedure.

These rules are also referred to in the Directory of Civil Service guidance, available at:

www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/civil_service/civil_service_guidance.aspx

Standard employment contracts for all senior civil servants refer to the rules on outside business appointments.