§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by his Department on official hospitality in each of the last two financial years.
§ Mr. SainsburyThe information requested is as follows:
£ 1985–86 2,858,465 1986–87 2,906,519 The amounts quoted represent total expenditure borne on Defence Votes for the provision of entertainment. They therefore include expenditure incurred not only by the Ministry of Defence itself, but also by formations and establishments of the Armed Forces at home and abroad and by individual officers occupying command and international appointments for which entertainment allowances are payable.
The 1985–86 figure is an update to that given in reply to a similar question from the hon. Member on 6 May at column 104 when some overseas expenditure had yet to be brought to account.