To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on Ministerial hospitality in (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06, (c) 2006-07 and (d) 2007-08, expressed in current prices. (317073)

The Department's accounting system does not separately record information on expenditure on Ministerial Hospitality and this could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

All expenditure on hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance, based on the principles set out in Managing Public Money.