Parliamentary Questions - Written Replies

ENTERTAINMENT: The Treasury's bill for official entertainment had almost trebled this year, Anthony Nelson, the Economic Secretary, disclosed. Spending on official entertainment was pounds 86,162 in 1991-92 and pounds 253,609 to date for 1992-93. The increase was due to several 'one-off events' including EC finance committee meetings during the UK's Community presidency, he said.

DETECTIVES: Kenneth Carlisle, the roads minister, disclosed that the Government paid a private detective agency pounds 7,000 to tackle protesters on Twyford Down in Hampshire, which is threatened by an extension of the M3. Bray's Detective Agency of Southampton had been asked to serve papers on the protesters trespassing on government land, and to photograph them, he said.