To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by his Department and its agencies on (a) alcohol and (b) entertaining in the last 12-month period for which information is available. (187783)

Information on alcohol expenditure is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 April 2007, Official Report, column 1014W, to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson).

As regards expenditure on hospitality and entertainment, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 October 2007, Official Report, column 11W, to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson).

Expenditure on official entertainment is subject to departmental regulation and compliance with the principles of propriety set out in Managing Public Money and in the Treasury's handbook on Regularity, Propriety and Value for Money.