Asked by: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many social media accounts his Department operates; and how much his Department spent on social media (a) subscriptions and (b) advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government communicates across a range of media channels in order to reach its target audience effectively. Channels are selected based on whether they will reach the intended audience on a specific issue to have the most impact. Social media is an essential part of government communications and is used to inform the public directly about matters which may affect their lives or interests. Defra currently operates 18 accounts across its policy areas and functions. To our knowledge, Defra does not have regular social media subscriptions. Departmental marketing spend for the last 3 years on social advertisements is detailed below:
DEFRA Social Investment by year (H1/H2) | |||||
2021 | META | Next Door | Total | ||
H1 Jan-Jun | £24,047 | £127,757 | £1,088 |
| £152,892 |
H2 Jul-Dec |
| £66,756 |
|
| £66,756 |
2022 | META | Next Door | Total | ||
H1 Jan-Jun | £7,045 | £176,713 |
|
| £183,758 |
H2 Jul-Dec |
| £44,114 |
|
| £44,114 |
2023 | META | Next Door | Total | ||
H1 Jan-Jun |
| £94,121 |
|
| £94,121 |
H2 Jul-Dec | £3,570 | £125,930 |
|
| £129,500 |
2024 | META | Next Door | Total | ||
H1 Jan-Jun |
| £174,872 |
| £11,785 | £186,657 |
H2 Jul-Dec |
| £60,320 |
|
| £60,320 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asked by: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Spring Statement 2025 on the number of children in poverty.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Living standards, measured by Real Household Disposable Income (RHDI) per capita, are growing at their fastest quarterly rate in two years and are forecast to rise at more than twice the pace this Parliament compared to the last.
The Government’s ambition is to tackle child poverty over this Parliament.
The Ministerial Taskforce is developing a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing child poverty and exploring the levers available to tackle the root causes of child poverty.
Asked by: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
What steps he is taking with the Northern Ireland Executive to help tackle violence against women and girls.
Answered by Fleur Anderson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
Last year, seven women were killed in Northern Ireland and rates of violence against women are higher in Northern Ireland than anywhere else in the UK.
In January, I was pleased to welcome the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls to Northern Ireland to meet Executive Ministers and the Police Service, and to visit the excellent Foyle Family Justice Centre. We discussed ways we can work together and share best practice to tackle violence against women and girls.
Asked by: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the suspension of USAID funding on the UK's HIV and AIDS prevention programmes.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to ending AIDS as a public health threat. The US decision to suspend USAID, pending a review, is a matter for the US. Progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, including ending HIV and AIDS by 2030, requires collective action. The UK will continue to work with all international partners toward that vision.
Asked by: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many social media accounts her Department operates; and how much her Department spent on social media (a) subscriptions and (b) advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
a) MHCLG Communications operate four social media accounts for MHCLG. Comms do not hold any subscriptions for these accounts
b) The MHCLG Communications costs to date (excluding VAT) of advertising on each social media platform over the last 3 years:
2022/23:
Meta - £591,780.28
LinkedIn - £215,043.04
Twitter - £150,037.83
NextDoor - £35,132.37
2023/24:
Meta - £508,648.87
LinkedIn - £199,990.22
Reddit - £160,410.28
Nextdoor - £38,999.29
2024/25:
Meta: £220,533.63
LinkedIn - £493.83
Reddit - £92,056.91
NextDoor - £32,271.44
The total cost of the LinkedIn for recruitment for the years 2023-24 and 2024-25 was £42,034.80 (excluding VAT) per year. The cost includes a recruiter licence, 21 job slots, MHCLG LinkedIn Careers page and dashboard manager seats
Asked by: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many social media accounts their Department operates; and how much their Department spent on social media (a) subscriptions and (b) advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government communicates across a range of media channels to reach its target audience effectively. Channels are selected based on whether they will reach the intended audience on a specific issue to have the most impact.
Social media is an essential part of government communication and is used to inform the public directly about matters which may affect their lives or interests.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) central communication team operates 15 active social media accounts for the department including foreign language and travel advice. We will spend £293.77 on subscription to X Premium+ in 2025. We report no spend on social media subscriptions in the preceding two years.
The below table captures social media advertising spend in support of key campaigns run by the FCDO central communication team from 2022 - 2025, broken down by platform.
Year | Meta | Snapchat | YouTube | Total | |||
2022 | £7,588.16 | £7,588.16 | |||||
2023 | £129,940.59 | £22,554.69 | £102,625.31 | £23,970.91 | £59,940.06 | £339,031.55 | |
2024 | £983,847.59 | £717,368.33 | £39,331.73 | £52,648.02 | £9,989.19 | £9,990.01 | £1,813,174.88 |
2025 | £123,000.00 | £111,999.76 | £234,999.76 | ||||
Total | £1,244,376.34 | £851,922.78 | £141,957.05 | £76,618.92 | £9,989.19 | £69,930.07 | £2,394,794.35 |
Our global network operates their own social media accounts, subscriptions and advertising locally to support bilateral relationships and international delivery of the Government's missions. Some FCDO policy teams also use social media to engage their audiences.
Asked by: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many social media accounts their Department operates; and how much their Department spent on social media (a) subscriptions and (b) advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government communicates across a range of media channels in order to reach its target audience effectively. Channels are selected based on whether they will reach the intended audience on a specific issue to have the most impact. Social media is an essential part of government communications and is used to inform the public directly about matters which may affect their lives or interests.
DBT's spend for the last three calendar years on social media subscriptions was as follows (table):
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
X/Twitter Premium annual subscription | £0 | £0 | £99 |
DBT's spend for the last three calendar years on social media advertising by platform was as follows (table):
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
LINKEDIN IRELAND LIMITED | £2,655,074 | £2,066,426 | £1,979,092 |
META PLATFORMS IRELAND LIMITED | £432,192 | £318,433 | £247,498 |
TWITTER UK LTD | £165,370 | £32,554 |
|
NEXTDOOR EUROPE UK LIMITED |
| £12,500 | £9,727 |
SNAP GROUP LIMITED |
| £8,500 | £11,364 |
TOTAL | £3,252,636 | £2,438,413 | £2,247,681 |
Asked by: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many social media accounts her Department operates; and how much her Department spent on social media (a) subscriptions and (b) advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department uses social media to connect directly and speak with the public on the issues and areas of interest they care most deeply about.
It operates 25 live social media accounts incorporating campaigns and supporting agencies.
The department spends no money on social media platform subscriptions.
The department undertook communications activity across its remit in line with the government’s published communications plans for each year. All spend complies with Cabinet Office spending controls to ensure that, where taxpayer money is being spent on government communications, it is cost-effective, coordinated and reflects functional standards and professional best practices. Activity included delivering joined up, national campaigns to increase supply and demand for technical qualifications, including apprenticeships and T Levels, and skills offers; inspiring more people to teach in schools and colleges; encouraging take up of government-funded childcare; and inspiring more people to become childcare professionals. As part of these campaigns, the department spent the following on paid-for advertising on each social media platform in each complete financial year:
Platform | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
Meta | £ 1,513,264.00 | £ 2,170,187.00 | £ 3,202,273.00 |
£ 223,926.00 | £ 476,815.00 | £ 486,835.00 | |
£ 95,280.00 | £ 99,799.00 | £ 175,733.00 | |
Snapchat | £ 598,276.00 | £ 821,765.00 | £ 1,449,496.00 |
£ 276,397.00 | £ 391,616.00 | - | |
- | £ 47,644.00 | £ 28,145.00 |
Asked by: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many social media accounts her Department operates; and how much her Department spent on social media (a) subscriptions and (b) advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
The Government communicates across a range of media channels in order to reach its target audience effectively. Channels are selected based on whether they will reach the intended audience on a specific issue to have the most impact.
Social media is an essential part of government communications and is used to inform the public directly about matters which may affect their lives or interests.
The Department holds 4 social media accounts. The Department has a nil spend on social media subscriptions, or advertisements on social media platforms, in the last 3 years.
Asked by: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many social media accounts his Department operates; and how much his Department spent on social media (a) subscriptions and (b) advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government communicates across a range of media channels in order to reach its target audience effectively. Channels are selected based on whether they will reach the intended audience on a specific issue to have the most impact.
Social media is an essential part of government communications and is used to inform the public directly about matters which may affect their lives or interests.
The Northern Ireland Office operates four social media accounts. In the last three years, no budget has been spent on subscriptions to social media sites. In 2023, the department spent £9,866.43 on display advertisements across social media platforms. This was part of a broader marketing campaign to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.