HC Deb 20 November 2003 vol 413 c1296W
Mr. Pickles

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated cost of running his Departmental office was for each year since it was established, broken down by(a) telephone bills,(b) total staff costs, (c) press and communications, (d) entertainment, (e) alcoholic drinks, (f) non-alcoholic drinks, (g) stationery, (h) office refurbishment and (i) other; and what the estimate for the current year is. [121807]

Yvette Cooper

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 July 2003,Official Report, 260W.

The estimate cost of running the Deputy Prime Minister's Departmental Private Office for the current year is £408,000.

All expenditure incurred for running the Deputy Prime Minister's Departmental office is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting".