§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest estimate is of the amount spent by his Department on entertainment in each year from 1996–97 to 2004–05 [169002]
§ Mr. CaplinDetails of cash expenditure on entertainment by the Ministry of Defence in each year from 1996–97 to 2001–02 were provided in the answer I gave the hon. Member on 20 March 2003,Official Report, column 885W. Final outturn on a resource basis, which is not directly comparable with previous cash figures, for 2002–03 was £7.32 million. The provisional outturn for FY 2003–04 is £7.99 million. Expenditure on entertainment and hospitality will vary for a number of reasons, but has been rising in line with the Strategic Defence Review intention to increase engagement with other countries through defence diplomacy, aimed at preventing conflict and increasing international stability. Planned expenditure for this financial year, after allowing for the effect of inflation, is expected to be the same, or lower, than the outturn in FY 2003–04.
Expenditure incurred on entertainment is strictly for official purposes only, and is made in accordance with departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.