HC Deb 09 January 1996 vol 269 cc63-4W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is her estimate of the cost of running her departmental office, and that of her predecessor, for each year since 1990–91 including the current year, broken down into(a) telephone bills, (b) total staff costs, (c) press and communications, (d) entertainment, (e) alcoholic drinks, (f) non-alcoholic drinks, (g) stationery, (h) office refurbishment and (i) other. [6391]

Mr. Sproat

While the information requested is not available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, the following information is available:

1993–94 £ 1994–95 £ 11995–96 £
Total staff cost 401,738 338,572 257,196
Hospitality/entertainment 3,700 564 1,905
Government car service/taxi services 133,183 92,213 46,710
Other costs 15,833 1,273 —
Total 554,454 432,622 305,811
1To date.

There are no comparable figures for earlier years as the Department's payment system was not in place until 1993, following the establishment of the Department of National Heritage in 1992.