§ Mr. Onslowasked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the cost to public funds of the Government hospitality organisation in the year 1974–75; and what it will be in the current financial year.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe expenditure of the Government Hospitality Fund in the year 1974–75 was £243,537.
In the current financial year expenditure is estimated to be £285,000.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Minister for the Civil Service how many of all those invited to functions sponsored by the Government hospitality fund in the past 12 321W months have been members of the Government, the Armed Forces, the Civil Service, or the nationalised industries.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe Government Hospitality Fund does not sponsor functions; it arranges them on behalf of Government Ministers.
A member of the Government is host at all functions arranged by the Government Hospitality Fund. Other members of the Government, Civil Service, the Armed Forces and the nationalised industries are invited by the sponsoring Department to attend functions on the basis of the essential minimum number of public servants having a contribution to make to the purpose of the function. This preserves the long-standing policy that only those public servants directly and necessarily concerned with the subject matter should be invited.
Figures are not readily available for the total number of guests attending Government Hospitality Fund functions in any of the categories in any given year.