§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what preparations, at what cost, Government Departments made for celebrating St. George's Day this year. [120867]
§ Mr. Mike O'Brien[holding answer 8 May 2000]: Although Government Departments did not officially celebrate St. George's Day this year, I understand that some embassies and missions overseas and some English Heritage properties took the opportunity to give a St. George's Day theme to events taking place at that time. I further understand that the Coldstream Guards and possibly some other English regiments normally celebrate the Day, at the expense of regimental funds rather than the defence budget.