§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the total spending of his Department on entertainment in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [92383]
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§ Mr. LammyExpenditure arises on hospitality and entertainment only in the context of promoting the Department's business objectives. All such expenditure is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.
Information in the required form is only available from 1995–96. The total amount spent by the Department of Health on hospitality since 1995–96 is as follows:
£ 1995–96 73,516 1996–97 105,192 1997–98 90,883 1998–99 67,953 1999–2000 50,114 2000–01 93,091 2001–02 121,968 2002–03 88,503 The 2002–03 figure represents expenditure from April to December.