Government press staff face axe

THE Government has announced that it is to cut staff numbers in its own press department by 40 per cent.

The Central Office of Information, which handles news from various government departments, is to make 287 redundancies nationwide – bringing staff numbers down from 737 to 450.

The office employs 21 people in its Manchester office based at King Street – all of whom have received “at risk” notices from COI placing them on a 90-day consultation programme that ends on November 1.

The organisation’s budget has been frozen as part of a cull of all non-essential advertising and marketing by the agency, Its turnover has fallen by 52 per cent as a result.COI has said that staff have been offered the chance to apply for redundancy voluntarily but if not enough people come forwards then compulsory redundancies may be necessary.

“COI has always adapted to meet the requirements of government and the changing media landscape. A leaner COI is in line with new government priorities,” said its chief executive, Mark Lund.

“Our future will be grounded in continuing to deliver excellent communications to achieve government aims, in the most cost-efficient and effective way possible.”