Scottish Executive

PR Companies hired by the Scottish Executive

Q. How many PR companies and public affairs agencies have been hired by the Scottish Executive in each of the last three years? For what purpose were these companies hired, how long were they employed and what was the value of the contracts.

A. The Scottish Executive Marketing Unit put in place a contract for PR on the 1 August 2004. Prior to this, all PR work was sub contracted by the creative advertising agencies on the Scottish Executive Contract. The Marketing Unit has not hired Public Affairs agencies.

The following PR companies have been hired by the Scottish Executive since the 1 August 2004 to promote the Scottish Executive public information campaigns. Payments from 1 August to 28 February 2005 are as follows:

PR Company Total paid by the Scottish Executive Barkers £103,711 Citigate SMARTS £53,094 Consolidated Communications £189,127 The Big Partnership £103,722 (source: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/FOI/19260/PR)