To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Christmas functions (a) he, (b) officials from his Department and (c) officials from its executive agencies (i) hosted and (ii) attended in 2007-08; what the cost to the public purse was; and if he will make a statement. (226961)

The information requested is not held centrally, therefore could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Department for Transport’s expenditure on and acceptance of any hospitality is conducted in accordance with the principles of Government Accounting and the Treasury handbook on regularity and propriety.