§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many departmental Christmas cards she and her Ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost(a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if she will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card she has sent this year. [88107]
§ Mrs. Liddell[holding answer 19 December 2002]: Scotland Office Ministers sent around 420 Christmas cards. Other cards were issued by the Department. The total cost of purchasing Christmas cards was £830 and the expenditure was incurred in accordance with the principles on financial procedures and propriety set out in Government Accounting. Details of postage costs and staff time involved in issuing the cards is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I have arranged for a copy of the Scotland Office Christmas card to be placed in the Library.
§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much will be spent on(a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by her Department and Government agencies answerable to her Department; and of this sum how much will be spent in Ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences. [88131]
§ Mrs. Liddell[holding answer 19 December 2002]: My Department spent £1,520 on Christmas decorations for the public entrances to its office buildings. The expenditure was incurred in accordance with the principles on financial procedures and propriety set out in Government Accounting.
No money has been spent on entertaining or other festive activities in the Department or Ministers' private offices. I do not have an official residence.