Whitehall Xmas costs revealed
Official figures show almost half a million pounds has been spent by government departments on Christmas festivities in the last five years.
And more than £125,000 of public money has been used for cards, parties and decorations at Whitehall parties in 2007 alone.
The findings were compiled by the Conservative party from ministerial replies which show at least £461,203 has been spent on Christmas celebrations since 2002.
However the final tally could be far larger as the Tories received no reply from the Department for Children, Schools and Families; the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra); the Foreign Office; the Department for Universities and Skills; the Home Office, and the Treasury.
The Northern Ireland Office was revealed to have run up the biggest bill, having spent £97,129, while what is now the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform spent £88,342.
The figures showed £260,000 was spent on Christmas parties between 2002 and 2006, with £182,000 used for cards and £19,000 on decorations.
Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Philip Hammond commented: “Many thousands of hard-pressed families who are struggling to make ends meet this Christmas will be angered to read these figures.
“At a time when everyone else has to tighten their belts, it would be good to see government departments setting an example.”
The Scotland Office was found to be the lowest spender, with just £2,636 used for Christmas festivities, while the Department for International Development spent £5,050.
