This is the first report of the 2008-09 session from the Select Committee on Communications on the subject of Government Communications (HLP 7, ISBN 9780104014189). One of the most important tasks of government is to provide clear, truthful and factual information to citizens. Accurate and impartial communication of information about government policies, activities and services is critical to the democractic process. Government communication falls into two areas, with the media and with the public. The growth in the 24 hour media, has meant that the cost of Government communications have grown considerably. The last external review of Government communications took place in the 2003-04 session by Sir Robert Phillis, the Chief Executive of the Guardian Media Group (http://archive.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/gcreview/News/FinalReport.pdf). Since that review a number of changes to the structure and focus of Government Communications has taken place. This report sets out a number of recommendations, including: when there is sensitive information, the Government should commit to return to Parliament at the earliest opportunity to give an account of developments; that the Prime Minister should draw all Ministers' attention to the guidance in the Ministerial Code that the most important announcements of Government policy should be made in the first instance to Parliament; further, that new information should always be provided on a fair and equal basis to all interested journalists; that the morning briefing to journalists, should appear live on the Number 10 website; that the Leader of the House of Commons should reinstate a weekly briefing on parliamentary business; that all major press conferences should be live on the internet; it is important that Ministers make clear that special advisers must follow the guidance available and stay within set limits; that where possible, high-flying civil servants should spend a period of service in the departmental press office; that the Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information should take the lead in improving standards, with training and guidance to regional press officers, tailoring regional press releases, having greater contact with the regional media and making more senior officials and Ministers available for interview on the local impact of policies; the Committee states that Government information should always be available and accessible to as many people as possible and that the Cabinet Office should collate annual statistics on the costs of Government Communications across departments.