To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on (a) entertainment and (b) the purchase of alcohol in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14; and what estimate he has made of such spending in 2014-15.

Expenditure on hospitality and entertainment is published in the Notes to the Ministry of Defence’s Annual Report and Accounts each year. We spent £1.527 million on this activity in 2012-13. We estimate that expenditure will be in the same region in 2013-14 and 2014-15. The figure for 2013-14 will be published in the 2013-14 Annual Report and Accounts later this year. This compares with expenditure of £4.3 million in 2008-09 and £3.8 million in 2009-10 under the previous Government.

We do not hold financial information in a form that allows us to identify expenditure on alcohol separately. This information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost. The provision of alcoholic refreshments at public expense is authorised only in exceptional circumstances and must be modest and appropriate in nature. Expenditure on hospitality and entertainment is published in the Notes to the Ministry of Defence’s Annual Report and Accounts each year. We spent £1.527 million on this activity in 2012-13. We estimate that expenditure will be in the same region in 2013-14 and 2014-15. The figure for 2013-14 will be published in the 2013-14 Annual Report and Accounts later this year. This compares with expenditure of £4.3 million in 2008-09 and £3.8 million in 2009-10 under the previous Government.

We do not hold financial information in a form that allows us to identify expenditure on alcohol separately. This information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost. The provision of alcoholic refreshments at public expense is authorised only in exceptional circumstances and must be modest and appropriate in nature.