HC Deb 18 December 1997 vol 303 cc264-5W
Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the official functions he has hosted at 10 Downing Street since taking office indicating the number of guests who attended each event, the cost of each event and the total expenditure on such events over the period; and how many(a) functions and (b) guests attending each there were in the previous year and at what cost. [18178]

The Prime Minister

[holding answer 28 November 1997]: I have hosted 26 official functions, details of which are as follows:

Date Number of persons
7 May 25
13 May 120
8 June 5
11 June 3
12 June 5
14 June 25
26 June 4
15 July 13
Date Number of persons
17 July 7
22 July 104
24 July 3
30 July 186
2 September 4
4 September 50
17 September 4
18 September 2
24 September 24
7 October 10
15 October 200
20 October 210
21 October 5
4 November 12
13 November 2
10 December 210
11 December 14
15 December 18

The figures include General Receptions, working lunches and dinners as well as other functions.

Total costs are not available in the form requested; nor are details of functions and numbers of guests in the year leading up to 2 May. However, for expenditure on official hospitality within my Department I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service on 5 December 1997, Official Report, columns 376–77.