Amount spent by the Department International Relations and Cooperation on Catering; and Entertainment during the Financial Years for 2007/08; 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12; and since 1 April 2012?

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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 1233 (NW1430E)

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 12-2012 OF 11 MAY 2012

Mr S Esau (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:

What amount has her department spent on:  (a) Catering; and (b) Entertainment (i) in the (aa) 2007/08; (bb) 2008/09, (cc) 2009/10, (dd) 2010/11 and (ee) 2011/12 financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2012?

REPLY:

a. The item “Catering” is used to budget for National Day receptions at missions abroad in furtherance of South Africa’s foreign policy. The Department has set a specific budget limit according to the categories of missions and the expenditure is capped within the approved limits.

b. Entertainment expenditure includes expenditure incurred at missions in furtherance of South Africa’s foreign policy and in line with a Mission’s approved Annual Performance Plan. Entertainment tariffs are set and revised annually.

In respect of previous financial years, the following expenditure has been incurred (in millions):-

With regard to the 2012/13 financial year, the Department has spent R8.6 million and R1.4 million on catering and entertainment respectively as at 31 May 2012. 

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