HC Deb 06 December 1996 vol 286 c826W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much his Department plans to spend on celebrating Christmas and the new year. [7575]

Mr. John M. Taylor

Disaggregated information of this nature is not available. The Department's budget for official hospitality this financial year, excluding the net controlled agencies, is £515,000.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much his Department will spend on Christmas trees and decorations this year; how many Christmas trees will be bought for his Department's headquarters; and what are the type and country of origin of the trees. [7563]

Mr. Taylor

As the Department and its agencies occupy some 220 sites, a global figure is not readily available. As to the six headquarters buildings occupied by the DTI in central London, the cost of decorating reception and public areas is estimated at £1,500, including the purchase of five Christmas trees of the Abies Nobilis variety from Scotland.