HC Deb 06 May 2004 vol 420 cc1791-2W
Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the amount spent by his Department on entertainment in each year from 1996–97 to 2004–05. [169003]

Ms Rosie Winterton

Expenditure arises on hospitality and entertainment only in the context of promoting the Department's business objectives. All such expenditure is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety/based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting".

Information for 2004–05 is not available. The total amount spent by the Department on hospitality for years since 1996–97 is shown in the table.

£
Expenditure
1996–97 105,192
1997–98 90,883
1998–99 67,953
1999–2000 50,114
2000–01 93,091
2001–02 121,968
2002–03 125,291
2003–04 76,742