§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many conferences were hosted by the Department in the UK and abroad in the year to 29 February; and what the cost was of these conferences, broken down by(a) travel costs, (b) food and drink, (c) accommodation and (d) miscellaneous costs. [160796]
§ Mr. StrawForeign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Services (Conferences and Events) has organised 14 conferences for the FCO in the period in question, one of which was held overseas. Total costs were: travel: £126,981.94; catering: £71,818.69; accommodation: £207,442.46; miscellaneous: £320,742.21.
The FCO's Executive Agency, Wilton Park, held 43 conferences in the UK on a wide range of international themes from March 2003 to February 2004. Costs are offset by conference sponsorship, both from FCO departments and from outside organisations. Total costs were: travel for speakers and participants £324,112; catering £125,000; accommodation £265,000; miscellaneous (running costs of staff and premises) £2,238,000.
Additionally, five Wilton Park conferences were held abroad in that period. Local conference partners meet the in-country costs for food, accommodation and miscellaneous costs.
FCO Directorates may opt to manage events from their own resources rather than ask FCO Services (Conferences and Events) to do so, but details of these events are not held centrally and can be collated only at disproportionate cost.