AQW 935/16-21 Mr Jim Allister KC Traditional Unionist Voice North Antrim
Tabled Date: 09/06/2016 Answered On Date: 02/08/2016 Priority Written: No
Question: To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail (i) the persons or bodies to whom their Department have provided hospitality; and (ii) the cost of providing this hospitality in each of the last twelve months.
Answer:
Details of the persons or bodies to whom hospitality has been provided are not held centrally on the Department’s financial accounting system. The following table sets out the costs incurred by the Department in respect of hospitality during the twelve months ended 31 May 2016. Information has been provided separately for the three overseas offices (Office of the Northern Ireland Bureau in Brussels, Northern Ireland Bureau Washington and Northern Ireland Bureau China) as hospitality for these offices includes promoting Northern Ireland’s capabilities internationally and developing mutually beneficial relationships with targeted countries, regions and international organisations to enhance our credibility and realise tangible benefits for our community. Month | Total Cost for OFMDFM (£) | Costs for Overseas Offices (£) | Cost excluding Overseas Offices(£) | June 2015 | 15,329 | 7,190 | 8,139 | July 2015 | 13,934 | 12,955 | 979 | August 2015 | 4,776 | 4,279 | 497 | September 2015 | 9,583 | 4,787 | 4,796 | October 2015 | 7,598 | 4,880 | 2,718 | November 2015 | 10,375 | 5,409 | 4,966 | December 2015 | 11,944 | 9,146 | 2,798 | January 2016 | 15,380 | 14,117 | 1,263 | February 2016 | 13,119 | 6,961 | 6,158 | March 2016 | 29,810 | 24,261 | 5,548 | April 2016 | 6,048 | 3,173 | 2,875 | May 2016 | 6,170 | 4,052 | 2,118 | Total | 144,066 | 101,211 | 42,855 |
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