§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 501W November, Official Report, column 109, if he will list the operational budget of the Government hospitality fund and staff levels for each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. GoodladThe operational budget of the Government hospitality fund and staff levels for each of the last 10 years are as follows:
Year Budget Staff levels 1984–85 730,000 26 1985–86 844,000 26 1986–87 945,000 26 1987–88 808,000 26 1988–89 908,000 26 1989–90 1,217,000 26 1990–91 1,099,000 26 1991–92 1,117.000 26 1992–93 1,152,000 26 1993–94 1,337,000 26 The cost of visits in 1993–94 rose as a consequence of visits made by Ministers from the new nations emerging in the former Soviet Union.
§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 November,Official Report, column 110, if he will provide a departmental breakdown of (a) hospitality and (b) visits costs in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. GoodladThe Government hospitality fund provides official hospitality on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, not on behalf of Departments. All invitations for hospitality and visits are issued in the name of Her Majesty's Government.