Question : CURTAILMENT OF EXPENDITURE

(a) the year-wise expenditure incurred under various heads such as publicity, advertisements, hospitality, catering, opening ceremonies, seminars, conferences, tours (including foreign visits), STD and ISTD telephone bills, electricity bills especially the electricity bills of airconditioners and coolers and other office expenses in various departments and undertakings under this Ministry during the last three years;

(b) whether the Government propose to launch any drive to cut down the expenditure being incurred under above heads;

(c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES AND MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION ( DR. C. P. THAKUR )

(a): Year-wise expenditure incurred under publicity, travel expenses and office expenses of the Ministry of SSI and its undertaking, namely, National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. during the last three years is as under :-

(Rs. in lakhs)
2000-01	2001-02	2002-03(provisional)
1	Publicity(Including Publication)	171.01	190.01	234.43
2	Travel Expenses(Domestic & Foreign)	240.28	264.83	291.25
3	Office Expenses#	1643.97	1618.73	1617.61
#	The expenditure on account of items like hospitality, telephone bills, electricity bills,	stationery, furniture, postage etc. are met from the Office Expenses.