Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2026 to Question 16560 on Department for Transport: Public Relations, for what reason the public relations activity was undertaken by an external company; and what is the headcount of her Department’s press and communications team.

Public relations activity was undertaken by an external company to promote the THINK! Drink and drug driving campaigns because they provide external expertise to facilitate campaign delivery. All activity is thoroughly evaluated and assessed for value for money and all external agencies must go through a robust procurement process as part of the CCS frameworks in place for communications.

Payroll workforce based on staff in post on 31^st August 2026 within the Group Communications directorate at the Department for Transport is 77. This includes all communications disciplines across press office, insight, external affairs, marketing, strategic communications, digital and admin.