§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is her estimate of the expenditure by(a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on official hospitality for (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1987–88, (iii) 1990–91, (iv) 1991–92, (v) 1992–93, (vi) 1993–94, (vii) 1994–95, (viii) 1995–96, (ix) 1996–97 and (x) 1 May to 30 September 1997. [15250]
§ Mr. Paul Murphy[holding answer 11 November 1997]: For the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments, the available information is as follows:1,2
£000s (a) (b) 1990–91 418 7 1991–92 476 28 1992–93 498 337 1993–94 513 360 1994–95 527 337 1995–96 627 359 1996–97 632 3,4165 September 1997 216 381 1 Information of NDPBs could be provided only at disproportionate costs. 2 Information for 1980–81 and 1987–88 are not available. 3 Costs for the year 1992–93 to September 1997 include figures for the Paid Order Unit, Lisahally and the Belfast Benefit Centre which could not be separated for this question. These offices carry out "back-office work" for the GB Benefits Agency. 4On 1 April 1996 a number of agencies came into existence leading to an increase in expenditure. The information given above has been revised from that provided in answers to previous parliamentary questions on this subject.