To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on hospitality in the last 12 months. (286389)

[holding answer 13 July 2009]: Details of expenditure on entertainment incurred by the Department are set out as follows:

2008-09: £17,371

This figure shows the cost of personal entertainment incurred directly by Ministers and senior departmental officials in order to further departmental business.

The Department’s policy on entertainment is in accordance with the principles of Treasury guidance in “Managing Public Money” and the handbook on “Regularity, Propriety and Value for Money”.

Entertainment expenditure is limited to occasions when official business can best be transacted in that way. Personal entertainment, in the form of hospitality, is usually restricted to where senior managers (deputy director or above) are acting as host and expenditure must be approved in advance by a director or executive board member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2009, Official Report, column 9W, on departmental official hospitality, how much his Department spent on entertainment and hospitality in 2008-09. (290169)

Details of expenditure on entertainment incurred by the Department are set out as follows:

2008-09: £17,371

The figure includes expenditure incurred by Ministers and senior departmental officials. The figure excludes costs incurred as part of official events or formal meetings held to further departmental business which are not separately identifiable on the Department’s accounting system.

The Department’s policy on entertainment is in accordance with the principles of Treasury guidance in “Managing Public Money” and the handbook on “Regularity, Propriety and Value for Money”.

Entertainment expenditure is limited to occasions when official business can best be transacted in that way. Personal entertainment, in the form of hospitality, is usually restricted to where senior managers (deputy director or above) are acting as host and expenditure must be approved in advance by a director or executive board member.