§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost to public funds of canteen and other catering facilities provided by his Department for employees: (a) in London, and (b) elsewhere during 1976 and 1977, respectively; and what contribution was made towards the cost of meals provided for and consumed by employees during working hours by those employees in the same years.
§ Mr. TomlinsonCivil Service staff restaurants throughout the United Kingdom are provided free of charge with premises, equipment and services. The cost to public funds of this provision and of similar provision at three Diplomatic Service posts overseas—Bonn, Washington and Cyprus—is not readily available.
The identifiable cost to public funds of catering for staff employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 455W London, elsewhere in the United Kingdom and overseas, and the contributions made by staff in the financial year 1976–77, and in the first six months of 1977–78, are as follows:
Cost (cash subsidy) Contributions 1976–77: £ £ (a)London 16,322 50,326 (b)Elsewhere in the United Kingdom 5,506 21,202 (c)Overseas 19,596 110,053 1977–78: (a)London 11,566 24,663 (b)Elsewhere in the United Kingdom 2,262 7,320 (c)Overseas 19,150 87,453