F-2012-00071 – Expenditure on HFEA events held at non-government venues

30 April 2012

Summary of request

The Authority was asked for information about the number of occasions over the last 12 months (29/03/2011 to 28/03/2012) the HFEA has used non-Government venues (in particular ETC venues, Bonhill House) to host events such as meetings and seminars. In each case also the cost, the menu of food provided and why HFEA or other Government property was not used.

HFEA response

Information about HFEA events held at non-government venues is provided in the attached table, including the event type and cost. The first five occasions in the attached table were events held at ETC venues, Bonhill House. Where food was provided then the cost of this is included, however, we do not hold information about the menu at each of these events.

In hiring any venue our primary concerns are cost and suitability. With regards to the question about why non-government venues were used instead of government venues, although two organisations may be funded by the government, one will more than likely charge the other, should it wish to hire a meeting room and the cost of doing so will not as a matter of course be less than the cost of hiring a non-government venue. Reasons for using non-government venues include there being no HFEA rooms of the required capacity available and/or in the required location, for example the HFEA is a UK regulator and therefore occasionally holds Authority meetings and stakeholder events in regions outside London. It may also be of interest that the Government Procurement Service is currently tendering for a new framework on meetings and events. We are keen to make use of this framework once the contract has been awarded which is expected in the Summer.

Page last updated: 17 August 2012