§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost of official entertaining in his Department in each year since 1990–91; if he will list the receptions held in each year at his Department's expense; and what was the cost of each reception.
597W
§ Sir John CopeExpenditure on official entertainment in 1990–91 was £51,424, in 1991–92, £85,873, in 1992–93, £303,523 and in 1993–94, £70,239.
Expenditure on receptions has been taken to mean formal hospitality provided largely for the benefit of people from outside the Department, excluding lunches and dinners. In those cases where the cost can be separately identified, expenditure was as follows:
The large increase in total expenditure on official entertainment in 1992–93 reflects the cost of the informal
£ 1991–92 Press reception 1,048.21 1992–93 Press reception 622.50 Russian secondees reception 627.00
The percentages shown for 1988–93 are based on year-on-year cumulative totals at 31 March of the default surcharge outstanding and the default surcharge collected.
Year Amount collected per year £ million Amount collected year on year (cumulative total) £ million Balance outstanding year on year (cumulative total) £ million Percentage 1988 25.1 25.1 50.7 202 1989 79.2 104.2 61.7 59 1990 82.1 186.3 74.9 40 1991 83.2 269.5 102.7 38 1992 92.5 362.0 132.3 37 1993 96.0 458.0 116.3 25 Some of the payments collected during any given year may relate to assessments issued in previous years.