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<p>At Defra, in 2020-21 we had 17 people allocated to the production and promotion
of online content for use on social media. Sixteen of those people worked across three
organisations: Defra, Natural England and the Environment Agency. In 2018-19 we allocated
16 people and in 2019-20 we allocated 17 people.</p><p> </p><p>We have no private
office officials allocated to the production and promotion of online content for use
on social media.</p><p> </p><p>Britain is fast becoming a digital-first nation. Roughly
96% of the UK households now have internet access with 66% of the population in the
UK using social media. With this monumental shift in media consumption habits, it
is essential for a responsible government to pivot its communications strategy to
be more digital-first in order to inform and engage with the general public on important
policies.</p><p> </p><p>Government communication runs across all channels - TV and
radio advertising, out of home, digital and social media, print, and direct channels
such as letters, SMS and webinars, virtual and in-person activity, where needed and
in full compliance with social distancing restrictions.</p><p> </p><p>Cabinet Office
is continuously tracking and reviewing spending on cross-government campaigns, including
Covid-19, to ensure our communications are efficient. We will not spend more than
is needed to be effective. Cabinet Office publishes expenditure, including on public
information campaigns, on a rolling monthly basis on <a href="http://gov.uk/" target="_blank">gov.uk</a>
as part of routine government transparency arrangements.</p>
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