To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 months 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. (324809)

The Department employs 26 people in the press office.

The total salary cost for the Department's press office in the financial year 2008-09 was £1,350,713.10.

In the financial year 1996-97 the Department employed 19 people in the press office at an actual cost of £702,000. It is not possible to express this in real terms except at disproportionate cost.