Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent on consultancy fees for (a) communications, (b) advertising and (c) marketing since 1 March 2020.

The Department has spent £9,000 on consultancy fees since 1 March 2020 in respect of communications related activities. This cost reflects the consultancy spend recorded on the digital, engagement and content cost centre. It is possible further communications related consultancy costs have been incurred in other areas of Departmental business however these are not separately identifiable.

In terms of media buying, the Department has spent £10.7 million since 1 March 2020. For spend on communications, advertising and marketing, the information is not collected in the format requested.