Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press officers are employed in her Department; and at what cost to public funds. [10608]

Margaret Beckett [holding answer 26 October 2001]: The DEFRA press office has a complement of 16 press officers. In the current financial year, the pay cost to date for the DEFRA press office is £433,239.

The non-paying running costs (NPRCs) for the DEFRA press office for this financial year, are as follows; DEFRA press office NPRCs (ex-MAFF)--£260,171.

(By our calculations that is £693,410...six hundred and ninety three thousand, four hundred and ten pounds - of public funds to finance the 16 "press officers" at DEFRA.)