§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much will be spent on(a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by her Department and Government agencies answerable to her Department; and of this sum, how much will be spent in Ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences. [88124]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 19 December 20021: The Department, including the Royal Parks, will have spent £9,944.26 on entertaining, £1,430 on Christmas decorations and £3,369.31 on other festive activities in this Christmas season. Of these amounts, £64.26 will have been spent in Ministers' private offices. No Minister in the Department has an official residence.
All of this expenditure is strictly for official purposes only and made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.