To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the expenditure by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on official hospitality for (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1987–88, (iii) 1990–91, (iv) 1991–92, (v) 1992–93, (vi) 1993–94, (vii) 1994–95, (viii) 1995–96, (ix) 1996–97 and (x) 1 May to 30 September 1997. [15246]

[holding answer 11 November 1997]: Expenditure on official hospitality by The Scottish Office and its departmental agencies is shown in the table.

Year	The Scottish Office£	Scottish Office agencies£
1980–81	18,427	not applicable
1987–88	41,983	not applicable
1990–91	65,123	nil
1991–92	83,836	5,700
1992–93	1125,118	4,979
1993–94	76,088	24,145
1994–95	79,510	28,603
1995–96	282,978	27,635
1996–97	86,167	20,200
1997–98 (May to September)	19,774	12,046
1 This figure includes expenditure on hospitality during the EC Council Meeting in Edinburgh in December 1992.
2 In addition, in 1995–96 The Scottish Office spent £34,680 on hospitality as part of the Government's contribution to the VE Day and VJ Day commemorations.

Information on hospitality spending by non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.