§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the amount spent on entertaining at (a) No. 10 Downing Street and (b) No. 11 Downing Street in each of the years 1996 and 1998, and the breakdown between food, champagne, and other wines and spirits. [HL2746]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Jay of Paddington)The total cost of entertainment by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, including official hospitality at 10 and 11 Downing Street and Chequers for the 1998/99 financial year was £57,538. This compares with total expenditure on entertainment of £57,303 for the 1996/97 financial year. The figure for No. 10 was £50,735 for 1998/99 and £50,126 for 1996/97 and £6,803 and £7,177 for the Chancellor's office for the same periods. The information cannot be broken down in the form requested.