Departmental Information Officers

Paul Holmes
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to his Department of press office staff other than press officers has been in each year since his Department was established.

Mr. Wills
Since its inception on 9 May 2007, the Ministry incurred the following expenditure on press office staff other than press officers:

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|Financial year|£      |
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|2008-09       |150,337|
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|2007-08       |76,167 |
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Press Office staff other than press officers are interpreted as being secretarial and administrative staff. The increase in expenditure has occurred because it was recognised that, in the transition from the Department of Constitutional Affairs to the Ministry of Justice, the press office function needed to be enhanced to satisfactorily meet the demands placed upon it from all forms of media. As a major Department of state, the Ministry touches the lives of all citizens, and it is important that the public understands how taxpayers money is being used and the services that it provides. The Ministry’s support and administrative staff working in the press office are an integral part of the team, helping with daily operations and the smooth running of the area.