§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [88113]
§ Clare Short[holding answer 19 December 2002]: I did not send any departmental Christmas cards.
Sally Keeble sent 81 departmental Christmas cards which cost 95p each to purchase. They took approx one and a half hours of staff time to sign, address and envelope. They were posted as second class mail. All 458W expenditure incurred in the purchase and despatch of official Christmas cards was made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.
I have placed a copy of the Christmas card in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [88128]
§ Clare Short:[holding answer 19 December 2002]: An official reception was held at a cost of £2,261.44. Otherwise nothing was spent on entertainment, decorations or other festive activities this Christmas season. We do not have official residences. DFID does not have any Government agencies answerable to it.
Expenditure incurred for the reception was made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.