To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on hospitality by his Department in the financial year 2006-07. (133248)

The Department's rules on hospitality adhere to the principles set out in Government Accounting and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety. Approval must be sought in advance from the appropriate director or Board member for all hospitality expenses. The Department's provisional outturn for such expenditure in 2006-07 was £4,372.