§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his latest estimate is of the amount spent by his Department on official entertainment in each year from 1996–97 to 2004–05. [168996]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeAll expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting. The following table sets out such spending in £000s for DfES and its predecessor Department in the relevant years.
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£000 Department for Education and Employment Department for Education and Skills 1996–97 24 — 1997–98 21 — 1998–99 31 — 1999–2000 21 — 2000–01 20 — 2001–02 — 11 2002–03 — 16 2003–041 — 18 2004–05 — Not available 1 Estimated outturn.