In the previous parliamentary questions regarding hospitality there was a significant increase in the amount spent between the years 2005-06 and 2006-07. The figures relating to the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), excluding its agencies and NDPBs, include hospitality paid for by the NIO, on behalf of other customers. The NIO recoups these amounts but they were omitted from the previous total spend figures. The following table illustrates how the recoupment offsets the expenditure.
2005-06 2006-07 Expenditure incurred on hospitality by the NIO 299,634 404,476 Amount recouped from external customers 89,000 184,000 Actual amount spent on NIO hospitality 210,634 220,476
When the recoupment is taken into account, the result is a small increase of approximately £10,000 in the amount that was spent between the two years.
This information does not represent the 11 Departments of the NI Administration.