To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what external (a) public relations and (b) public affairs firm were contracted to provide support for the London G20 Summit; and at what cost to the public purse. (289084)

No external public relations or public affairs firms were contracted to provide support for the London G20 Summit.

However, a temporary unit was created within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to support posts in their engagement with overseas media, help organise local events during the run up to the summit, as well as providing information for the London summit website.

This was staffed by FCO and externally contracted staff who acted as project co-ordinators and content developers, rather than in a public affairs capacity.