HC Deb 19 January 1976 vol 903 cc344-5W
Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost of entertainment made available by United Kingdom embassies and missions abroad over the last five years on an annual basis; and what arrangements exist for authorising such expenditure.

Mr. Ennals

The total cost in each of the last five complete financial years was as follows:

£
1970–71 1,193,246
1971–72 1,234,368
1972–73 1,282,319
1973–74 1,540,601
1974–75 1,783,066

As regards arrangements for authorising such expenditure, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Lamont) on 15th January.—[Vol. 903, c. 239.]