The Labour Government spent nearly £38m on advertising in News International titles between 2005 and 2010, a Parliamentary answer to Co-chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Treasury Committee, Stephen Williams, has revealed.

The figures show:

• More than £17m was spent advertising in The Sun, including £4.5m between April 2009 and March 2010.
• More than £7m was spent advertising in the News of the World, including £1.8m between April 2009 and March 2010.
• £877,153 was spent advertising in all News International titles between April 2010 and March 2011.

Commenting, Stephen Williams said:

"Despite the dire state of public finances, the Labour Government continued to spend millions with the Murdoch tabloids.

"This confirms the impression that the last Government was obsessed with spin and prepared to use taxpayers' money to push its agenda with a bloated advertising budget.

"I am glad the Coalition has slashed expenditure by 90 per cent with these titles, continuing only essential information messages."

The figures were contained in a Parliamentary answer, which is available here:

Phil Reilly I Deputy Head of Media tel: 020 7227 1244 I mob: 07859 808 811 I out of hours: 020 7340 4949 I 4 Cowley Street, Westminster, SW1P 3NB