HC Deb 06 December 1996 vol 286 cc819-20W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department will spend on Christmas trees and decorations this year; how many Christmas trees will be bought for his Department's headquarters; and what are the type and country of origin of the trees. [7568]

Mr. Horam

No central record is kept of the annual expenditure on Christmas trees and decorations throughout the Department. Three trees will be bought for the Department's London headquarters offices this year, at a total cost of £1,546. Where natural trees are purchased they will be of Nordmaniana variety from sustainable forests in Norway.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department plans to spend on celebrating Christmas and the new year. [7582]

Mr. Horam

The headquarters of the Department of Health plans to spend an estimated sum of £1,120 on the purchasing and postage of charity Christmas cards for 1996. Any other costs which may arise are covered by the hospitality expenditure of the Department which is included in the running costs sum published in the annual report, copies of which are available in the Library.