§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which London restaurants have been used by 365W Ministers in his Department for the purpose of official hospitality in each of the past three years; and what was the annual cost.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinIn the interests of security of Ministers, of their guests and of the establishments they use, it would not be appropriate to identify them.
Entertainment costs cover not only individual official guests but also occasions when it is appropriate for a Minister to host a larger party on the occasion of a conference or other such function. Private entertainment, for instance, on the occasion of a colleague's retirement, is of course paid for by Ministers personally.
Expenditure has been as follows:
£ 1982–83 2,999 1983–84 2,898 1984–85 5,124 The increase last year over the previous year was due in part to the interruption of ministerial business during the general election, and in part to a greater number of functions in 1984–85 for groups of guests for whom official entertainment was appropriate.