§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her latest estimate is of the amount spent by her Department on official entertainment in each year from 1996–97 to 2004–05. [168999]
§ Mr. CabornAll expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government guidance.
The following table shows expenditure on entertainment by the Department. In a change to previous practice, figures from 1997–98 onwards are presented on an accruals basis. In 2002–03 changes were made in the way entertainment expenditure was captured to include associated staff costs following the contracting out of the hospitality service. Figures for 2004–05 are not available at present.
£ 1996–1997 41,000 1997–1998 15,269.81 1998–1999 24,496.51 1999–2000 33,359.78 2000–2001 51,666.75 2001–2002 32,586.56 2002–2003 87,150.29 2003–20041 78,144.29 Notes: 1Provisional, pending finalisation of annual accounts.