HC Deb 29 March 1994 vol 240 cc684-5W
Mr. Boyes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost of official entertainment in her Department in each year since 1990–91; if she will list the receptions held in each year at her Department's expense; and what was the cost of each reception.

Mr. Sackville

Expenditure on hospitality since 1990–91 is shown in the table. A breakdown of past expenditure is not available in the form requested as hospitality expenditure tends to consist of large numbers of small payments—for example, refreshments for meetings of expert advisory committees, working groups etc.—which are summarised, managed and recorded by organisational group; I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Knowsley, South (Mr. O'Hara) on 24 January at columns109–10 for a breakdown of 1992–93 expenditure by organisational group within the Department.

Year £
1990–91 158,000
1991–92 168,151
1992–93 246,374
1993–94 1223,000
1Estimate.

NoteFigures have not been adjusted for inflation.