To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions the British embassy in Athens has hosted receptions for UK organisations visiting the city in each of the last three years; what assessment he has made of how this compares to other UK diplomatic missions; and what funding was allocated to the embassy over this period for this purpose. (170473)

Our embassy in Athens does not distinguish between receptions for UK organisations visiting the city and other forms of entertainment. Instead, the embassy follows a written policy which requires that entertainment should support the embassy's business plan (based on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's strategic priorities). Other UK missions follow similar practice.

Since 1 January 2007 the ambassador has hosted 42 meals, 20 receptions and seven seminars or group meetings involving over 4,000 guests.

To collate a comprehensive list of events hosted from 2004-07 would incur disproportionate cost, as would the work required to assess the funding allocated to the embassy over this period for this purpose.