§ Q4. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Prime Minister what rules govern the entertainment by him of official guests from overseas under the auspices of the Government Hospitality Fund.
§ The Prime MinisterBy long established practice, which I have not changed, the Fund is restricted to the entertainment of distinguished visitors from overseas.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerWhile continuing to provide proper entertainment for overseas customers, is the Prime Minister proposing to apply to domestic customers the same principle that is being applied to the private sector? If luncheon vouchers are good enough for the private goose should they not be good enough for the Government gander?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman was in office and carried out a number of functions. I hope that he did not call every Foreign Minister or Prime Minister a "customer". There has been no change in the rules or the practice. The hon. Gentleman will be interested to know that from 17th October, 1963, to 31st March, 1964, under the previous Government, there were 141 luncheons, dinners or receptions. In the same period of this year there were 146. We have held pretty well to the same figure. However, the number of guests has been little smaller than the number entertained by the last Government.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerI asked the Prime Minister whether he proposed to cut back Government hospitality domestically just as he is cutting back on the private sector.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government Hospitality Fund, as I said in my Reply, relates to overseas entertainment. It is not used for home entertainment. I hope the hon. Gentleman does not intend to pursue his argument to the point at which he would wish not to give adequate entertainment to Commonwealth and Foreign Prime Ministers visiting London.