Government Hospitality: Wines

Mr. Watson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 197W, on Government hospitality: wines, at which events wine from the Government wine cellar was served in the last 12 months.

Chris Bryant
Government hospitality manages over 200 events annually for all departments across government. Wine is not served at all functions. Alcohol is generally offered at receptions, lunches and dinners except where dietary and religious considerations would make it inappropriate.

It is not possible to give a detailed breakdown of the events at which wines or alcohol were served throughout 2009 without incurring disproportionate costs.