Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to his Department’s publication of spending over £500 with a Government procurement card in December 2021, for what services was Alison Price Catering paid £4,164.84 on 23 December 2021.

This relates to catering and staff costs for two events with international delegations held at Lancaster House in 2021. The exchange of hospitality has long been an important part of building relations and diplomacy.

The payment dates refer to the dates the caterers were paid, and are not the dates events took place on.

All events took place in-line with HMT guidelines and fully complied with any COVID regulations and social distancing guidance that may have been in place at the time. Expenditure was subject to normal FCDO controls and an appropriate use of public money.