The estimated spend on Hospitality for the Department for Work and Pensions for the period February 2007 to January 2008 (inclusive) is £57,000. This equates to 0.00094 per cent. of the total departmental expenditure limit (DEL) spend for 2006-07. Hospitality comprises expenditure on meals, drinks and snacks for non-civil servants.
The Department for Work and Pensions does not currently keep a separate record of expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes. Such expenditure is included within the hospitality account. Expenditure on alcohol and entertaining fall within the classification “Hospitality” within Managing Public Money, the use of which is strictly prescribed, and in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, which is based on the principles set out in Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety. Accordingly, alcohol is provided only as an exception and only with the specific written authority of a small number of designated senior civil servants.