§ Mr. Onslowasked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the expenditure of the Government Hospitality Fund in each of the past 10 years; what it will be in the current financial year; and what it is expected to be in the next financial year.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe expenditure of the Government Hospitality Fund in each of the past 10 years has been as follows:
478W
Department 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: Functions … … … (24) 7,211.18 (20) 6,846.67 (19) 6,784.76 Visits … … … (3) 1,994.63 (6) 26,158.02 (3) 2,498.85 9,205.81 33,004.69 9,283.61 Cabinet Office: Functions … … … (4) 487.18 — — Civil Service Department: Functions … … … (3) 826.59 (1) 341.78 — Visits … … … (1) 430.36 (1) 509.60 — 1,256.95 851.38 Defence: Functions … … … (19) 4,937.22 (12) 2,655.8 (22) 10,043.10 Visits … … … (2) 1,665.98 (2) 643.31 (4) 4,874.00 6,603.20 3,299.11 14,917.10 Education and Science: Functions … … … (15) 3,463.54 (8) 2,374.18 (5) 1,728.72 Visits … … … (2) 2,875.74 (2) 916.10 (1) 2,210.01 6,339.28 3,290.28 3,938.73
£ 1966–67 193,245 1967–68 176,792 1968–69 171,300 1969–70 144,638 1970–71 137,750 1971–72 176,435 1972–73 252,478 1973–74 262,061 1974–75 243,537 1975–76 285,209 For the current financial year, 1976 –77, it is likely to be about £300,000. Provision has been made for 1977 –78 for expenditure of up to £550,000. This is because in that year the Government will incur certain exceptional non-recurring hospitality costs.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will itemise the calls of each Department upon the Government Hospitality Fund in each of the past three financial years.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe calls of each Department upon the Government Hospitality Fund during the past three financial years are shown below. The figures in brackets show the numbers of functions and the numbers of parties of guests of Her Majesty's Government respectively. An approximately similar total number of functions were in addition arranged for Departments by the Government Hospitality Fund on a repayment basis.
479W480W
Department 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 Employment: Funtions … … … (7) 3,199.86 — (1) 1,567.54 Visits … … … (2) 1,393.87 — — 4,593.73 1,567.54 Environment: Functions … … … (16) 3,190.84 (20) 6,835.63 (11) 4,985.21 Visits … … … — (2) 1,863.00 — 3,190.84 8,698.63 4,985.21 Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Functions … … … (100) 33,036.66 (114) 41,714.23 (119) 46,166.40 Visits … … … (46) 92,087.82 (30) 109,319.37 (32) 98,935.90 125,124.48 151,033.60 145,101.94 Forestry Commission: Functions … … … (1) 875.41 — — Health and Social Security: Functions … … … (9) 5,631.49 (5) 3,568.41 (14) 7,254.51 Visits … … … (1) 411.52 — (1) 1,036.36 6,043.01 3,468.41 8,290.87 Home Office: Functions … … … — (2) 944.01 (7) 5,056.12 Visits … … … — (1) 827.02 (1) 762.25 1,771.03 5,818.37 Lord Chancellor's Office: Functions … … … (3) 865.80 (5) 2,924.14 (2) 241.46 Visits … … … — — (1) 514.36 865.80 2,924.14 755.82 Lord President's Office: Functions … … … — — (1) 197.32 Northern Ireland Office: Functions … … … — — (1) 382.51 Overseas Development: Functions … … … (5) 1,737.25 (7) 2,262.28 (11) 2,400.08 Paymaster General's Office: Functions … … … (1) 197.79 (1) 149.15 — Post and Telecommunications: Functions … … … (1) 175.69 (1) 264.12 — Prime Minister's Office: Functions … … … (30) 16,702.71 (20) 7,915.80 (23) 13,779.14 Scottish Office: Functions … … … (13) 3,612.45 (9) 2,681.23 (16) 12,001.03 Departments of Trade and Industry: Functions … … … (46) 15,064.70 (47) 18,371.53 (49) 20,113.74 Visits … … … (7) 1,638.50 (9) 14,490.08 (11) 14,634.44 16,703.20 32,861.61 34,478.18 Treasury: Functions … … … (11) 1,575.12 (6) 735.20 (12) 2,077.30 Visits … … … — (1) 2,910.65 (3) 2,978.16 1,575.12 3,645.85 5,055.46