Costs of PR and FOI

Dear Sir or Madam,

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 I seek the following
information about the Department's staffing and funding for
publicity and communications (including any contracted-out services
of this description). I would like this information broken down
annually for the past three years up to the time this request is
answered. The years may be financial or calendar, whichever is
convenient, but please keep them consistent.

Specifically, I need:

1. The number of staff (full-time equivalent) working in marketing,
external communications and press offices.

2. The number of dedicated Freedom of Information officers
(full-time equivalent).

3. Total staffing cost of marketing, external communications and
press officers.

4. Total staffing cost of dedicated Freedom of Information staff.

5. Total spending on marketing, external communications and press
offices.

6. Total spending on Freedom of Information.

7. If the department produces a newsletter then the name of this
publication and all associated costs.

Some parts of this request may be easier to answer than others, and
should this prove to be the case I would ask that you release
available data as soon as possible rather than hold up the entire
request.

I would prefer to receive this information electronically. If the
decision is made to withhold some of this data using exemptions in
Act, please inform me of that fact and cite the exemptions used.

If you need any clarification then please contact me at the number
above or via email. Under your section 16 duty to provide advice
and assistance I would expect you to contact me if you find this
request unmanageable in any way.

I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have
received this request, and I look forward to hearing from you in
the near future.

Regards, Heather Brooke

Dear Claire,
Thank you for your response and the organagram so that I can
clarify my request. It does look as though the figures given are
only partial in relation to the costs of PR, press officers,
marketing and external communication. Although I agree that the
Media Relations Office is an integral part of this figure it seems
also that several other departments fall into this category
specifically the corporate publications team but also perhaps the
Head of Public Affairs group, Public information services,
broadcasting office and external liaison office.

The newsletter I asked about it not related to FOI but rather
government newsletters sent out to the public.

Regarding the total costs. I do not want speculative costs just
actual line-item budget items (so for example the costs of staff,
legal work commissioned, printing newsletters, postage, etc). You
have not provided speculative costs for PR/marketing (eg made-up up
costs for time taken by senior officials to consider marketing
campaigns etc) so I don't see why you have done so for Freedom of
information.

I hope that clarifies matters but if not please contact me again.

Regards,
Heather Brooke

Dear Ms Turnbull,

A public body does not get to re-start the clock back to 20 days at
the point of clarification. Rather, according to law the time
remains 20 working days from the time I filed by request minus only
the few days from when you wrote to me and I clarified. Therefore I
believe I should be hearing from you next week.

Yours faithfully,

Heather Brooke

Dear Sir or Madam,
The link you provided doesn't work.

Yours faithfully,

Heather Brooke