§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service, for the longest and most convenient period of time, what is the amount of moneys spent by the Government hospitality fund on vodka: how much of this expenditure was on 585W Russian vodka; and whether he has decided to change the purchase to vodka produced outside of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
§ Mr. ChannonThe amount of money spent by the Government hospitality fund on vodka since July 1974 is £1,985.56. Of this sum £619.80 was spent on Russian vodka. The rest was produced in the United Kingdom.
The Government hospitality fund has no plans at present to buy Russian vodka, but, if it requires vodka, will buy vodka produced in the United Kingdom.