HC Deb 15 May 1996 vol 277 cc509-10W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department and all associated agencies in the financial year 1995–96. [28573]

Mr. Boswell

[holding answer 9 May 1996]: The amount spent by the Minstry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food excluding its agencies on hospitality in the financial year 1995–96 was £59,646.25.

Chief executives of the agencies will reply separately.

Letter from T. W. A. Little to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 15 May 1996:

The Minister has asked me to reply to your question on expenditure on official hospitality over 1995–96 in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA).The VLA was established on 1 October 1995, from the merger of the existing Central Veterinary Laboratory with the Veterinary Investigation Service, which was part of the State Veterinary Service. This information therefore includes spending from October 1995 to March 1996 by the former VI Service.

Expenditure on official hospitality in the VLA in the financial year 1995/96 was £18,900.

Letter from J. M. Rutter to Tony Banks, dated 15 May 1996:

The Minister has asked me to reply to your question (No. 28573) about expenditure on hospitality by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for 1995/96, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.

The expenditure on hospitality, which principally covers working lunches for industry liaison meetings, for 1995/96 was £122.70.

Letter from Johnston McNeil to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 15 May 1996:

As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service, your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food concerning official hospitality has been passed to me for reply with regard to this Executive Agency.£5,750 was spent on hospitality by the Meat Hygiene Service during the financial year 1995/96.

Letter from Phillip Needham to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 15 May 1996: The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary question in which you asked how much was spent on official hospitality by his department and all associated agencies in the year 1995/96. The costs incurred by ADAS on official hospitality in 1995/96 were £10,630.

Letter from G. K. Bruce to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 15 May 1996:

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply, in respect of the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), to your question concerning hospitality.The sum of £1,269 has been spent on official hospitality during 1995/96.

Letter from P. I. Stanley to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 15 May 1996:

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about expenditure on hospitality in the financial year 1995/96 in respect of his Central Science Laboratory (CSL) Agency, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.Expenditure for the year in question is expected to be £21.3K. Final figures are not yet available but any variation to this estimate will be very small.

Letter from George Trevelyan to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 15 May 1996:

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your Question about the amounts spent of official hospitality by the Intervention Board in 1995–1996 as the matter is one within my operational responsibility.In 1995–1996 the cost of hospitality, which is included in the running cost of the Agency, was £2,522.