§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service what has been the actual or estimated Government expenditure on hospitality and so on until the latest date since May; how this compares with previous amounts expended; what has been the monthly or annual savings in comparison with similar periods before May 1970; and what further action he has taken or intends taking to reduce this expenditure in accordance with the Government's policy of reducing Government expenditure.
§ Mr. ChannonDetails of issues of the grant-in-aid to the Government hospitality fund are not readily available for past periods other than for financial years. On this basis expenditure has been incurred as follows:
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Current prices £ 1979–80 Outturn prices £ 1969–70 141,000 525,000 1970–71 141,000 452,000 1971–72 169,000 490,000 1972–73 260,000 699,000 1973–74 263,000 635,000 1974–75 243,000 489,000 1975–76 285,000 448,000 1976–77 278,000 380,000 1977–78 522,000 646,000 1978–79 288,000 329,000 1979–80 370,000 370,000 1 April 1980–30 June 1980 95,000 85,000 The sums available are limited by the resources within the Vote programme from which the Government hospitality fund is financed—Class XIII, 13—which has been subject to the Government's restrictions on public expenditure and is cash limited. Due consideration is always given to keeping down expenditure.
Other expenditure on hospitality and so on is financed from departmental Votes. Details are not held centrally and could not be obtained except at a disproportionate cost.