Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff in his Department are managing ministerial social media accounts as either (a) their primary responsibility or (b) as part of their role.

Ministers' social media accounts are primarily personal accounts, and will include political or constituency content created by Ministers themselves or their parliamentary offices and political advisers. It is often appropriate however, for content relating to Government policies, guidance and announcements to be posted from these accounts - this includes ministerial statements, content from official visits or government announcements.

Where this is the case, content can be created by civil servants where this helps to inform and explain to the public about the policies overseen by a minister or highlights their work as a government Minister, rather than in any political role.

In addition to the Civil Service Code, the Government Communications Service offers propriety in digital and social media guidance and is available to discuss questions relating to social media when working with ministers.