Official Photographer to the Prime Minister 2022-02-24
2022-02-24
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
No specific background or context provided other than the question itself regarding recent assessments of value for money.
What recent assessment has been made of the value for money provided by the official photographer to the Prime Minister?
Civil servants and special advisers provide assistance on communications. Photographers are employed to capture sensitive Government work that cannot be documented by press photographers. They serve as a cross-Government resource supporting other Departments and Ministers, playing a critical role in digital communications activity and policy progression.
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Assessment & feedback
The value for money of employing photographers was not assessed or quantified.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP challenges the justification provided in the initial response, highlighting that Downing Street employs three photographers with public funds despite economic hardships faced by families.
Given the cost of living crisis and tax increases for most families, is it really good value for taxpayers' money to have three photographers at Downing Street?
Photographers play a key role in supporting modern Government communications, particularly on social media. The Labour Government spent £2.5 billion annually on marketing and communications with 4,000 spin doctors working across central Government and its quangos.
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Assessment & feedback
The question about value for money was not addressed; instead, the response shifted to criticising a previous government's spending habits.
Shifting Blame
Response accuracy