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.
Asked by: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, 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 Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
Government policies and programmes affect the lives of millions of people and in order for them to work, they must be communicated effectively to engage the public and effect positive behaviour change. However, this has to be done with cost efficiency in mind and there are strict rules to ensure value for money on Government advertising.
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 Home office operates the following social media accounts X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin. There are no paid subscriptions linked with these accounts.
The table below sets out the amount the Home Office spent on advertising space on social media platforms over the last 3 years, exclusive of VAT. Advertising was purchased via media buying agency OmniGov.
Home Office | Meta Platforms | Nextdoor | Reddit Inc. | Snapchat | Tiktok | X (Twitter) | Total | ||
2022 | £89,471 | £1,196,046 |
| £2,895 | £130,995 | £472,956 |
| £461,964 | £2,354,327 |
2023 |
| £141,080 | £14,784 | £6,655 | £86,350 | £150,644 |
| £48,996 | £448,509 |
2024 | £52,093 | £260,666 | £13,603 | £10,381 | £203,484 | £88,374 | £60,235 |
| £688,836 |
Asked by: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, 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 Lucy Powell - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the response provided by the Cabinet Office (35133).
The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons currently operates three social media accounts, with no subscription or advertisement cost.
Asked by: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many social media accounts the Prime Minister's Office operates; and how much the Prime Minister's Office spent on social media (a) subscriptions and (b) advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
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.
The Prime Minister’s Office is a business unit of the Cabinet Office. The Prime Minister’s Office has not spent any money on social media subscriptions or advertising.
Asked by: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour - Calder Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 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 James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury 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 currently operates 6 social media accounts in total, on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Instagram and Discord.
HM Treasury has spent £0 on advertisements on social media platforms in each of the last three years.
HM Treasury has a recruiter licence/subscription with LinkedIn which cost £14,800 in the Financial Year 2022-2023, £15,480 in the Financial Year 2023-2024 and £16,500 in the Financial Year 2024-2025.