Poet laureate

Dear Susan Davis,

Your request of 10 September 2008 for information regarding the post of
Poet Laureate (Ref: 102375)
Thank you for your request for information which I received on 10
September. You asked :-

* "How much public money is spent each year supporting the post of Poet
Laureate; and
* .... If possible, a breakdown of this expenditure into its component
parts"

We are dealing with your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000. We aim to reply to your request within 20 working days following the
day on which we received your request.

If you need any help or advice or have any questions about this letter,
please contact me(Public Engagement and Recognition Unit) on 020 7211 6307
or [1][email address]. Alternatively, please write to me
at the address below. Please quote the above reference number in any
communications.

Regards,

Sharon Lewry
Public Engagement and Recognition Unit
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
London SW1Y 5DH
Tel: 0207 211 6307
Website: [2]www.culture.gov.uk
DCMS aims to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and
sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion
the tourism, creative and leisure industries

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FOI CASE: 102375
8^th October
2008

Dear Ms Davis

Thank you for your FOI request of 5^th September 2008 where you asked

'Please could you tell me how much public money is spent each year
supporting the post of Poet Laureate; if possible, could you also provide
a breakdown of this expenditure into its component parts'?

We are dealing with your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
('the Act').

Under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000) you have the right to:
· know whether we hold the information you require
· be provided with that information

We are pleased to provide you with information relating to your request.
The Poet Laureate is supported by the Department for Culture, Media and
Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
For 2008, the Departments are contributing a total sum of £25,042.41.

When Andrew Motion was appointed Poet Laureate in May 1999, it was decided
that he should receive an annual honorarium of £5,000 to cover additional
clerical expenses incurred as a result of his appointment. This is paid by
the Royal Household and reimbursed to them by DCMS. The amount has risen
in line with annual inflationary pay increases to the current sum of
£5,759.04 per year.

In January 2003, to reflect and support Andrew Motion's extensive advocacy
work in schools and colleges, the Department for Education and Skills (now
DCSF) agreed to contribute £15,000 per year to the post, plus National
Insurance payments. The payments cover clerical and administration costs,
travel costs and preparation and evaluation of school visits. For 2008,
the contribution from DCSF currently stands at £19,283.37.

If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our response to your request
for information and/or wish to appeal against information being withheld
from you please send full details within two calendar months of the date
of this letter to:

FOI Central Team,
Public Engagement and Recognition Unit
Department for Culture Media and Sport,
2-4 Cockspur Street, London,
SW1Y 5DH

You have the right to ask the Information Commissioner (ICO) to
investigate any aspect of your complaint. Please note that the ICO is
likely to expect internal complaints procedures to have been exhausted
before beginning his investigation.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.
Kind regards
Saira Tariq
Freedom of Information Officer
Freedom of Information Team
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
London
SW1Y 5DH
Telephone: 020 7211 6192

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