To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the answer of 1 May 2008, Official Report, column 574W, on the East of England Development Agency: Fishburn Hedges, what payments the East of England Development Agency has made to Fishburn Hedges since May 2008; and for what services each such payment was made. (289779)

Since May 2008, Fishburn Hedges have provided support to EEDA with specific public affairs services. This support includes legislative and policy updates, a parliamentary monitoring service, information and briefings, support on political visits and events, and parliamentary procedures. EEDA does not have sufficient capacity in house to manage all these areas of expertise.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2009, Official Report, column 924W, on the East of England Development Agency: public relations, and with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells of 1 May 2008, Official Report, columns 574W, on the East of England Development Agency: Fishburn Hedges, for what reason the payments made to Fishburn Hedges are not classified as payments for external advice on public relations. (289781)

The previous question asked how much EEDA has spent on ‘retaining external advice on public relations’.

By ‘retaining external advice on public relations’ EEDA interprets this as where a retainer contract is in place, with a monthly fee paid to an agency for public relations services. EEDA defines 'public relations services' as supporting EEDA's corporate communications. This is a function we manage in-house with a team of professionals. EEDA does not therefore 'retain' any agency to provide 'external advice on public relations’.

EEDA uses public relations agencies for specific projects where additional capacity is required.

Fishburn Hedges is a public affairs agency and EEDA uses them on a retainer basis to provide specific public affairs support services. This includes legislative and policy updates, a parliamentary monitoring service, information and briefings, support on political visits and events and support on parliamentary procedures. EEDA does not have sufficient capacity in house to provide all these areas of expertise.