asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the cost to Natural England of sums paid to the Central Office of Information strategic consultancy for producing its communication strategy; and whether the recommendations in that strategy will be acted upon. [HL4190]

Since March 2007, Natural England has spent approximately £40,000 using the Central Office of Information (COI) for developing its communications strategy and for additional specific advice on its communications work. Between December 2006 and February 2007, Defra's modernising rural delivery programme agreed a procurement of approximately £69,000 for the COI’s services in working up the strategy advice to Natural England's board.

The Natural England board considered the report from the COI in February 2007 and made a number of comments which are now being considered as part of the final development of the communications strategy.