To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by his Department on refreshments in each year since 1997. (102168)

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was formed in June 2001 from the Department of Social Security (DSS), the Employment Service (ES) and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment (DfEE).

Information on expenditure for refreshments is only available from 2002-03 as the predecessor Departments accounted for this type of expenditure in different ways.

The information is shown in the following table.

All expenditure on refreshments is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.