To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Christmas parties his Department plans to host in 2009; what has been budgeted for each such reception; what estimate she has made of the proportion of (a) lamb, (b) beef, (c) chicken, (d) pork, (e) turkey, (f) other meats, (g) vegetables, (h) fruit and (i) alcohol to be served at each such function which is produced in the UK; and if she will make a statement. (300863)

Departmental funds are not normally used to fund internal staff parties or recreational events. The cost of staff parties, including Christmas parties, are normally met by those staff attending. In an organisation of the size of DWP, such events are numerous and are not systematically recorded by the Department or its agencies. No information is held centrally on the food served at these events nor could the plans for such events in 2009 be made available without incurring disproportionate cost.