§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many departmental Christmas cards he and his 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. [88115]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 19 December 2002]A total of 971 cards have been sent by Home Office Ministers at an approximate cost of 68p each. An approximate £211 was spent on postage with 21 hours of staff time involved in processing. A copy of the official Christmas card has been forwarded to 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 the Home Department 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. [881301]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 19 December 2002.]: A breakdown of expenditure as requested could be supplied only at 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 principles set out in Government Accounting.