Government hospitality in protocol directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) recorded the following expenditure on official hospitality for all Government Departments, including new stock purchased for the Government wine cellar, for the previous four financial years:
£ 2004-05 869,418 2005-06 809,529 2006-07 592,592 2007-08 525,568
The FCO does not maintain a central record of other hospitality expenditure, and to provide this information would incur disproportionate cost. However, all FCO staff are bound by official guidance which ensures that the provision of food and beverages at public expense is appropriate and cost effective.