HC Deb 11 March 2002 vol 381 cc661-3W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Solicitor-General if she will list for 1997–98 and for each subsequent financial year, including the current year to date, the amount spent by(a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on (i) food and (ii) alcohol, indicating how much was spent on guests, and how much in respect of (A) Ministers and (B) staff, broken down to show how much was provided directly by her Department and how much reclaimed. [34460]

The Solicitor-General

[holding answer 11 February 2002): My own Department, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, spent the following sums in providing hospitality and meeting refreshments in 1997–98 and subsequent financial years:

Hospitality

  • £3,259.79 in 1997–98
  • £3,120.70 in 1998–99
  • £3,726.64 in 1999–2000
  • £4,296.13 in 2000–01
  • £2,693.89 in 2001–02

Meeting Refreshments

  • £931.36 in 1997–98
  • £317.56 in 1998–99
  • £799.59 in 1999–2000
  • £1,769.85 in 2000–01
  • £377.75 in 2001–02

Due to the accounting system used by the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, the cost information provided could not be divided to show the amount spent on food and alcohol, and the amounts spent on guests, Ministers and staff without incurring disproportionate cost. For the same reason information cannot be provided regarding how much of the money spent by the Department was provided directly by the Department and how much was reclaimed.

Crown Prosecution Service

In 1997–98 and subsequent financial years the Crown Prosecution Service spent the following sums in providing hospitality:

  • £7,819 in 1997–98
  • £4,466 in 1998–99
  • £4,084 in 1999–2000
  • £10,533 in 2000–01
  • £18,710 in.2001–02

It would not be possible, without incurring disproportionate costs, to identify how much money was spent on food and drink, how much on guests, Ministers and staff, how much money was provided directly by the Department and how much was reclaimed.

The Department's policy on the provision of hospitality requires that the number of staff at any event must not exceed the number of guests. The thrust of the policy is that CPS representation must be kept to an absolute minimum.

Expenditure on hospitality is restricted to a maximum of £25 per head for lunch and £35 per head for dinner. These sums are to cover all food and drink.

The increase in expenditure in the last two years is a consequence of the CPS policy to raise its profile in the community and in the media. Recent initiatives such as Direct Communication to Victims and the Equality and Diversity Action Plan on Race have been publicly launched to the press and invited members of the public and relevant organisations.

Treasury Solicitor's Department

In 1997–98 and subsequent financial years the Treasury Solicitor's Department spent the following sums in providing hospitality:

  • £4,591.56 in 1997–98
  • £4,702.97 in 1998–99
  • £5,872.31 in 1999–2000
  • £5,965.65 in 2000–01
  • £4,598.78 in 2001–02

The contract management and financial analysis systems currently in place within the Treasury Solicitor's Department mean that it is not possible to distinguish between money spent on food and alcohol and between guests and others, without incurring disproportionate cost. These systems are being upgraded as part of improvements which commenced some months ago. Most of the improvements should be in place during the course of the financial year 2002–03.

In relation to agencies and non-departmental public bodies, the Government Property Lawyers spent the following sums in providing hospitality in 1997–98 and subsequent financial years:

  • £1,438.35 in 1997–98
  • £684.92 in 1998–99
  • £7.62 in 1999–2000
  • £0 in 2000–01
  • £0 in 2001–02

The Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has not incurred any hospitality costs since they became part of the Treasury Solicitor's Department.

Serious Fraud Office

In 1997–98 and subsequent financial years the Serious Fraud Office spent the following sums in providing hospitality and meeting refreshments:

Hospitality

  • £7,881.36 in 1997–98
  • £6,260.46 in 1998–99
  • £6,702.39 in 1999–2000
  • £6,035.78 in 2000–01
  • £8,555.03 in 2001–02 (to date)

Meeting Refreshments

  • £8,444.81 in 1997–98
  • £8,389.30 in 1998–99
  • £7,166.21 in 1999–2000
  • £6,089.75 in 2001–01
  • £7,025.40 in 2001–02 (to date).

This information could not be divided to show the amount spent on food and alcohol, and the amounts spent on guests, Ministers and staff without incurring disproportionate cost. For the same reason information cannot be provided regarding how much of the money spent was provided directly by the Department and how much was reclaimed.

The Serious Fraud Office has neither agencies nor non-departmental bodies.