Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his Department's policy is on alcohol consumption on the premises (a) in general and (b) during parties held in his Private Office.
The Departmental policy sets out that when providing in-house hospitality, no alcohol is to be paid for from departmental funds. When providing hospitality to external stakeholders discretion can be exercised but only where there is a justification, where expenditure is modest, and only then with approval at Director level. The same policy applies to parties held in Private Offices.
Employees are expected to behave in accordance with the standards set out in the Civil Service Code and the departmental Conduct policy.