§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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, 732W 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. [88114]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 19 December 2002]Defra Ministers sent approximately 800 official Christmas cards in 2002, at a cost of £0.65 each, and total postage of £160. Clerical staff in Ministers' Private Offices spent the equivalent of approximately 22 man hours, at a cost of £10 per hour, addressing and placing the cards in envelopes. A sample copy of the official Christmas card will be placed in the Library.
All expenditure incurred in the purchase and despatch of official Christmas cards is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting".
§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [88129]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 19 December 20021]The information requested could not be provided without incurring disproportionate costs. However, any expenditure incurred on decorations, entertainment and any other festive activities is strictly for official purposes only, and is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principals set out in "Government Accounting".