§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much will be spent on(a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department and government agencies answerable to his Department; and of this sum how much will be spent in ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences. [88125]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 19 December 2002]: The answer to the first part of this question could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Any 134W expenditure in these categories is strictly for official purposes only, and is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.
The total spent on entertainment, Christmas decorations and other festive activities for the FCO ministerial private offices and official residence at Christmas 2002 was £13,337.15. Of this £11,809.65 was spent on entertaining by ministerial offices and £1,527.50 in the official residence.