§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister for the Civil Service what are the criteria controlling the provision of Government hospitality; and how often a review of the criteria is carried out.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe role of the Government hospitality fund is to provide certain facilities for distinguished non-British visitors from Foreign and Commonwealth countries, of at least ministerial status, who have been invited to the United Kingdom as official guests of Her Majesty's Government. The fund also organises for overseas visitors of similar status or rank.
The rules for the administration of the fund have in essence remained unchanged since 1921, although in 1963 amendments were made to provide for the inclusion of limited hospitality arrangements to be made for Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conferences in the United Kingdom, and later it was decided that from 1972 expenditure in respect of State visits would fall to the fund.
The rules approved by Parliament are set out in the Supply Estimates (Central management of the Civil Service) class XIII, 12, main note, section V, Government hospitality fund.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the annual cost of Government hospitality for each of the last five years at constant prices.
§ Mr. HayhoeGovernment Departments are responsible for their own expenditure on hospitality. Details of this expenditure are not held centrally and could not be 335W obtained except at a disproportionate cost. However, the annual cost of the Government hospitality fund in cash terms and at constant 1980–81 prices is as follows:
Cash Terms Constant 1980–81 Prices £ £ 1976–77 278,000 455,000 1977–78 522,000 773,000 1978–79 288,000 395,000 1979–80 370,000 443,000 1980–81 471,000 471,000 Expenditure in 1977–78 included exceptional calls upon the fund during the Silver Jubilee year, and such events as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference, the economic summit and the first United Kingdom Presidence of the European Community.