§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how much was spent by departmental special advisers on food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for entertainment purposes in each of the last five years; [46841]
(2) if he will list for each of the last five years the total amount of money spent by Ministers in his Department on food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for official entertainment purposes. [47204]
§ Mr. MacShaneTotal cost of entertainment for each of the last five years was as follows:
Year £ 1997–98 10,298,909.00 1998–99 9,314,853.00 1999–2000 11,228,371.00 2000–01 13,102,685.15 2001–021 11,842,869.29 1To date, books not closed for 2001–02 Entertainment expenditure covers a wide range of activities from entertaining individuals to dinner receptions for Government Ministers and high level visitors and other events to establish and cultivate contacts. All are undertaken in pursuit of FCO objectives, both in the UK and in our posts overseas.
A more detailed analysis of entertainment to show the information requested about food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks is not possible without incurring disproportionate cost.