[holding answer 25 March 2010]: Events organised by the Department cover such matters as business summits, trade missions, conferences concerning EU issues and so on, where hospitality is not the only, or even the main cost. Often, the costs of such events are shared with other organisations. It is not possible to disaggregate the BIS hospitality costs of these events except at disproportionate cost.
I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office and the Intellectual Property Office and they will respond to the hon. Member directly.
Letter from John Alty, dated 26 March 2010:
I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 22nd March 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Intellectual Property Office does not generally host hospitality events, although it runs a number of outreach events and seminars on Intellectual Property issues. The Office has on occasion hosted launch events on specific issues. These include:
Artist Resale Rights: £625
Lambert Tool Kit: £2,495
IP Crime Report: £5,072
World IP day ’09: £3,210
World IP day ’08: £9.375
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 26 March 2010:
I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the cost and purpose of the five most expensive hospitality events in the last three years.
The five most expensive hospitality events hosted by the National Measurement Office in the last three years were:
1) A networking event to discuss reform of Weights and Measures regulations in line with Hampton principles held in London. Cost £6,024.30 in March 2008.
2) A networking event to discuss reform of Weights and Measures regulations in line with Hampton principles held in London. Cost £5,824.99 in January 2008. This was in addition to the above as it involved a different sector of stakeholders.
3) A metrology seminar in Birmingham at a cost of £5,820.45. This took place in November 2009.
4) A chemical and biological metrology seminar held in London at a cost of £5,328.67. This took place in November 2009.
5) A metrology seminar in Birmingham at a cost of £4,941.82. This took place in November 2008
Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 25 March 2010:
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 22 March 2010, UIN 324412, to the Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Companies House does not host hospitality events.
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 26 March 2010:
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question, to list the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies in the last three years; and what the (a) cost and (b) purpose was of each.
The Insolvency Service hosted a reception for its stakeholders in December 2007 at a cost of £4,177. This was attended principally by insolvency practitioners, members of the judiciary and people working in the debt advice sector (both commercial and charitable).
In April 2009, The Service held an internal ceremony to present awards to members of its staff who had obtained an award under one of The Service's bespoke qualification programmes. This work-related event was also attended by members of the awarding body, Nottingham Trent University, and some external training partners, 12 individuals in total. The cost of the refreshments provided to those attending from outside The Service was £640.
In October 2009, The Service held a half-day conference for stakeholders concerning its project to modernise the Insolvency Rules 1986. Refreshments were provided for the delegates at the end of the conference at a cost of £962.