§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) 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 entertainment purposes; [47212]
(2) how much was spent by departmental special advisers on food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for official entertainment purposes in each of the last five years. [46839]
§ Dr. Whitehead[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The cost of entertainment, expenditure incurred by Ministers. Private Offices, the Permanent Secretary's Office and special advisers was £13,000 for 1999–2000; £16,000 for 2000–01 and £21,000 for 2001–02.
The remainder of the information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.