Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department’s publication of spending over £500 with a Government procurement card in March 2021, for what catering supplies was Parsley in Time paid a total of £3,979.04 on 22 and 25 March 2021; and for what purpose those supplies were used.

The two transactions were to purchase official equipment for diplomatic residences in Buenos Aires. The purpose was to allow continuing high quality production of food for official functions at the Ambassador's residence and to furnish two diplomatic residences for staff and visitors. This reduces the spend on extended hotel stays.

Government Procurement Cards provide an efficient route to enable key staff to procure goods and services, necessary to the promotion of British interests overseas and the maintenance of our embassies and high commissions. All purchases are subject to authorisation by managers and audit checks. Local budgets are scrutinised for waste, and fraud is monitored by our audit teams to ensure best value to the tax payer.