§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the total spending of his Department on all forms of entertainment in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [92358]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe estimated total spend by the Northern Ireland Office (excluding its agencies and NDPBs)on all forms of entertainment in each financial year from 1994–95 to 2002–03 is set out in the table:
£ Year Total 1994–95 190,300 1995–96 195,205 1996–97 214,363 1997–98 214,473 1998–99 322,853 1999–2000 320,230 2000–01 246,517 2001–02 221,477 2002–03 1255,875 1 To date (full year estimate £325,000) Entertainment at public expense is provided using very strict criteria. A necessary pre-condition for any entertainment or hospitality to be financed from public funds is that it will be in the direct interests of the Northern Ireland Office and/or its Agencies. The facility to offer official entertainment or hospitality is used sparingly and is carefully monitored.
The estimated total spend by the Northern Ireland Administration on all forms of entertainment in each financial year from 1994–95 to 2002–03 is set out in the table:
£ Year Total 1994–95 245,377 1995–96 407,248 1996–97 466,995 1997–98 453,807 1998–99 480,317 1999–2000 493,729 2000–01 595,261 2001–02 534,712 2002–03 1479,036 1 To date