Eating and drinking for Britain

While Adrian's been asking about fish, David Laws has been going on about entertainment expenses. I've been following his line of questioning over the last few weeks. It seems Ministers are having a ripping good time at our expense.

I await the cross-Government analysis with bated breath.

"Mr. Laws: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what his latest estimate is of the amount spent by his Department on official entertainment in each year from 1996–97 to 2004–05. [169000]

"Mr. Lammy: Expenditure by both Officials and Ministers on entertainment for the financial year 2003–04 was £79,050 (£64,718—covers costs related to Ministers and the Lord Chancellor, and £14,332—costs related to Officials), in 2002–03 was £43,378, in 2001–02 was £44,730, in 2000–01 was £60,768, in 1999–2000 was £71,166 and in 1998–99 was £45,087.

"Information on previous years and the current year is not readily available."(Hansard, 12 May 2004 : Column 382W)