§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many departmental Christmas cards he and his Ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost(a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he has sent this year. [88106]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 19 December 2002]: Defence Ministers sent a total of 520 departmental Christmas cards. All expenditure incurred in the purchase and despatch of these cards was made in accordance with departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.
The cards were purchased from The Royal Star and Garter Home, a charity for disabled ex-service men and women at an equivalent cost of 67p per card. A copy of the card used will be placed in the Library of the House.
It is estimated it took around four minutes of staff time to prepare each card for posting.