My right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State, did not host or attend any official Christmas functions in 2007-08.
The Department does not hold the information that the hon. Gentleman requests regarding officials from this Department and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service and Companies House agencies and they will respond to the hon. Gentleman directly.
Letter from Stephen Speed, 10 November 2008:
The Minister of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked me to reply to your question how many Christmas functions (a) he, (b) officials from his Department and (c) officials from its executive agencies (i) host and (ii) attend in 2007-08; what the cost to the public purse was.
The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform did not host any Christmas functions in 2007-08. There was no cost to the public purse of The Agency or any of its Officials attending functions in 2007-08.
Letter from Gareth Jones, 10 November 2008:
I am responding on behalf of Companies House to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Minister of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
Companies House held a staff party and provided Christmas lunches for staff in 2007-8 at a total cost of £27,069. The number of Christmas functions attended by staff is not known but they would be at no cost to the public purse.