Written question asked by Lord Hammond of Runnymede (Conservative) on Friday, 4 December 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 8 December 2009. It was answered by Shaun Woodward (Labour) on Monday, 11 January 2010 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on (a) alcohol and (b) entertainment in the last 12 months.

Answer: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) records expenditure for alcohol and entertainment under the description of either hospitality or catering.The NIO, including its arm's length bodies but excluding its agencies and executive NDPBs, spent £189,855 on official hospitality and catering in 2008-09.This includes receptions and events held at Hillsborough Castle. These events were attended by 15,287 cross-community representatives from the police and their families, armed forces, business, charity, voluntary and criminal justice sectors across Northern Ireland.All expenditure has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Secondary information