To ask the Solicitor General what the cost was of (a) the in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by the Attorney General in 2002. [1104250]

A holding reply was given on 25 March 2003.Of the Departments for which the Attorney General holds ministerial responsibility, only the Crown Prosecution Service has an in-house canteen which is at their headquarters in London. The service is contracted out to a commercial firm and the cost of this facility in the Financial Year 2001–02 was £84,417.No other catering services are provided by any of the Departments for which the Attorney General is responsible.Some refreshments are provided for meetings and training events etc. on an ad hoc basis.The available figures for money spent on catering services for hospitality, training, meeting refreshments etc. for the financial year 2002–03 to date is as follows: