HC Deb 23 February 1998 vol 307 cc100-1W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many receptions have been held in her Department since she took office; how many people have attended; and what was the total cost of these events. [25165]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 23 January 1998]: Since I took office the Hospitality Section in the Department of Trade and Industry has been involved in arrangements for twenty-two receptions. The estimated number of people attending these receptions is 2,300. The DTI has been responsible for funding or part-funding seventeen of them. Not all the bills have been received yet but so far the cost to the department has been £16,250.

Details are contained in the table.

Reception held
Date Venue Purpose Host Who paid Estimated attendance1 Cost to DTI
02/07/97 Lancaster House Egypt Lord CD GHF 155 —
07/07/97 Lancaster House India Lord CD GHF £1,510.33 & DTI £755.00 125 £755.00
16/07/97 Lancaster House Saudi Arabia Lord CD Saudi-British Bank 60 —
13/10/97 Church House WTO Scholar TPE/DTI 55 £731.44
16/10/97 Lancaster House US Marketing Scholarship Lord CD XP5/DTI 80 £2,041.61
30/10/97 Lancaster House SITPRO Lord CD SITPRO/DTI 90 N/A
05/11/97 Lancaster House Turkey Lord CD XP1/DTI 90 £2,023.15
06/11/97 Lancaster House 20th IBB Anniversary President IBB/DT1 270 £6,441.09
15/12/97 Lancaster House Singapore President XP2/DTI 130 N/A
17/12/97 Lancaster House Export Promotors President JEPD/DTI 200 N/A
22/12/97 Lancaster House 25th BOTB Anniversary Lord CD BOTB/DTI 250 N/A
1Based on number of lapel badges picked up.

Notes:

GHF = Government Hospitality Fund

N/A = Not available—bills not yet received but costs will be incurred.