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Written question asked by Lord Hammond of Runnymede (Conservative) on Monday, 22 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 March 2010. It was answered by Shaun Woodward (Labour) on Monday, 29 March 2010 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what the (a) cost and (b) purpose was of each.
Answer

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is responsible for hosting events, recorded as expenditure under hospitality, which acknowledge the contribution made by a wide range of people to life in Northern Ireland. These include receptions at Hillsborough Castle for representatives from the voluntary, charity and business sectors as well as the police, armed forces and their families (including those returning from active service in Afghanistan), to recognise their contribution to wider society.The five events hosted by the Northern Ireland Office over the past three years which have incurred the greatest expenditure are shown in the following table.

Date Venue £
Annual Royal Garden Party attended by HRH Princess Anne May 2009 Hillsborough Castle 72,231.64 This event held to acknowledge the contribution made by a wide range of people to life in Northern Ireland. The 2,500 guests included representatives from the voluntary, charity and business sectors as well as the police, armed forces and their families (including those returning from active service in Afghanistan), to recognise their contribution to wider society.
Annual Royal Garden Party attended by HRH Prince of Wales and HRH Duchess of Cornwall May 2008 Hillsborough Castle 86,996.18 This event held to acknowledge the contribution made by a wide range of people to life in Northern Ireland. The 2,500 guests included representatives from the voluntary, charity and business sectors as well as the police, armed forces and their families (including those returning from active service in Afghanistan), to recognise their contribution to wider society.
Annual Royal Garden Party attended by HRH Prince of Wales and HRH Duchess of Cornwall May 2007 Hillsborough Castle 73,698.35 This event held to acknowledge the contribution made by a wide range of people to life in Northern Ireland. The 2,500 guests included representatives from the voluntary, charity and business sectors as well as the police, armed forces and their families (including those returning from active service abroad), to recognise their contribution to wider society.
Royal Garden Party attended by Her Majesty The Queen and HRH Duke of Edinburgh June 2007 University of Ulster, Coleraine 73,902.33 Royal Garden Party held to acknowledge the contribution made specifically by those living in the north and north-west of Northern Ireland. 2,000 guests included representatives from the voluntary, charity and business sectors as well as the police, armed forces and their families.
Royal Garden Party attended by HRH Princess Anne May 2007 Hillsborough Castle 64,318.58 This event was held to specifically acknowledge the unique contribution made by those working in the Northern Ireland Prison Service throughout the years of conflict in Northern Ireland. The 2,000 guests were drawn from current and former employees of the Northern Ireland Prison Service and their families.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
508 c600W; 324416
Session
2009-10
Subjects
Northern Ireland Office Official hospitality
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk