To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent on entertainment by each British (a) Embassy, (b) High Commission and (c) Consulate in 2008. (273702)

The direct entertainment expenditure figure available for the financial year 2008 (April 2007 to March 2008) is £6,470,379.11.

Our accounting reports do not allow us to separate the spend on entertainment into the categories requested and it would involve disproportionate cost to interrogate them further.

This figure includes all items, for example catering and set up costs that are directly attributable to functions, events and receptions held at posts throughout the world and in the UK.