To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in current prices. (324813)

The cost of employing press and media officers from April 2009 to January 2010 (latest figure available) was £407,000.

DECC was created in October 2008.