ONS expenditure on food and beverages

You asked

I would like to know how much taxpayers money your office, the Office of National Statistics, has spent on food and beverages this last financial year, April 2020 to the present day.

If possible, I would like to be given a total figure of spending for the past financial year, alongside an individual breakdown of which money has been spent on what (either generally - i.e. ‘chocolate’ - or to (a) specific company/ies), and when, however if the later is not possible the former will suffice.

We said

Thank you for your request.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) expenditure on food and beverages, directly with suppliers, is recorded within the spend category 'Catering and Hospitality'. Spend within this category encompasses venue and facilities hire for various events which will often include food and refreshments as part of a package. We are unable to identify the cost of the food and refreshment element within these packages but have extracted expenditure items relating solely to food and beverages from April 2020 to February 2021;

We are also able to identify expenditure incurred by employees on food and beverages whilst carrying out official business away from their normal place of work. The expenditure is reimbursed to our employees as capped actual travel and subsistence claims. The expenditure on T&S claims for food and beverages during April 2020 to February 2021 is;

We are unable to identify the types of food or beverages bought in any of the categories above. The Authority's T&S policy does state that the purchase of alcohol is not allowed so expenditure on beverages will be in relation to non-alcoholic drinks.

Total ONS Expenditure on food and beverages between April 2020 and February 2021 is £13,803.79. These figures are yet to undergo standard year end statutory audit processes and are thus provisional.