To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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 real terms. (324808)

The total cost of employing staff in the DEFRA press office for the period of 1 April 2009 to 28 February 2010 was £906,316.80. Figures for March 2010 are not yet available.

DEFRA was established in 2001. There are therefore no figures available for press office costs in 1996-97.