Christmas

Mr. Roger Williams
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Christmas parties his Department plans to host in 2009; what has been budgeted for each such reception; what estimate he 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 he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett
The Department does not fund staff Christmas parties and in respect of any other functions this question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

A second report on the proportion of domestically produced food used by Government Departments and also supplied to hospitals and prisons under contracts negotiated by NHS Supply Chain and HM Prison Service was published in November 2008, covering the year from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. This report and the first one covering the previous year can be found at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/policy/publicsectorfood/awareness.htm

The report gives details of the proportion of individual meat, fruit and vegetable categories purchased.

Although it is too early to show a trend, the report indicates that the amount of domestically produced food consumed by Government Departments in England is increasing. The proportion of domestically produced food procured by Communities has gone up from 59 per cent. in 2006-07 to 65 per cent. in 2007-08. We expect to publish a third report at the end of 2009.

Grant Shapps
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much (a) his Department, (b) the Homes and Communities Agency, (c) the Homes and Communities Agency Academy and (d) the Tenant Services Authority expects to spend on Christmas parties in 2009.

Barbara Follett
In relation to Christmas parties, the Department has interpreted this to mean internal, departmental Christmas parties. On this basis, the (a) Department can confirm that no official funds are planned to be spent on Christmas parties in 2009.

The Homes and Communities Agency (b), the Homes and Communities Agency Academy (c) and the Tenant Services Authority (d) can also confirm that there are no plans to spend official funds on Christmas parties.