SPENDING is up but consumption of the Government's official wine cellar has dropped by more than 13 per cent in the past year, ministers have revealed.
Foreign Office Minister Mark Simmonds said the wine cellar was self funding in the third annual report on the store, as he published figures showing the organisation has turned a profit - but a narrower one than in 2012/13.
Sales of "high value" stock and purchases by other Government departments helped the Foreign Office produce positive figures, Mr Simmonds said in a written statement to MPs.
Consumption of bottles in the cellar was down 13.5 per cent on last year, he said.
Sales amounted to £56,000 while money from other departments added more than £16,000 to receipts.
Purchases amounted to £50,054, compared to £45,866 in 2011/12.
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