§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade 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.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe total cost of official entertainment in the years from 1 April 1990 is included in the running cost expenditure for my Department which is published every year in the annual report; figures for 1993–94 are not yet available. The entertainment budget is used for a variety of functions including receptions. To list the receptions held in each year at my Department's expense and to provide an accurate costing for each one would entail disproportionate cost.
(a) (b)1 (c)2 Women Ethnic Minorities Registered Disabled Grade Level Number Per cent. staff Number respondents Per cent. staff Number Per cent. staff Grade 1 — — — — — — Grade 2 — — — — — — Grade 3 6 11.8 — — — — Grade 4 2 14.3 — — — — Grade 5 38 13.2 3 1.0 — — Grade 6 47 12.2 9 2.3 2 0.5 Grade 7 171 14.8 22 1.9 2 0.2 All Staff excluding industrials and casuals 5,548 43.9 1,195 9.4 117 0.9 1Ethnic minority figures are based on 90.5 per cent, positive response rate to the ethnic origin survey. 2The Department also employs a number of disabled staff who are not registered.