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I have seen some nasty stuff on Facebook defending the Tory vote against free school meals - They spend it on fags and booze, they shouldn't have kids if they can't afford them etc - so I don't want to discuss that here but did wonder about the other end of the scale with the Parliaments subsidised restaurants and bars.
I understand that there are lots of places with works canteens but the menus don't read quite the same. Chargrilled English Sirloin Steak with thick cut chips, tomato's, mushrooms and béarnaise sauce sounds very nice and costs just £11.77.
Any arguments against removing the massive subsidy that MPs receive on this?
I wonder if we could give them the same amount per head to provide the MPs lunches as the schools get and then they top up the rest?
Anyone able to get this one trending over the weekend?
Any arguments against removing the massive subsidy that MPs receive on this?
My only thought is there are employees there who are on lower wages. I would like to know if the cleaners (etc) benefit from this, and even then if any of them do as £11.77 for your la-de-dah steak n chips is likely too expensive still for them anyway.
I have no problem with staff staying on site, and have a subsidised canteen. There are good reasons for this in all workplaces... and there are extra reasons somewhere with security concerns. It's an entirely different issue and unrelated to keeping kids fed over the holidays this winter, as some families struggle even more than usual while this pandemic is going on.
I also have no issue with subsidised canteens to a certain level of subsidy. After a point, they become untaxed benefits. Have a quick google to see the food and drink prices compared to other food establishments in the area.
These are not the type of menus and prices I have seen in staff canteens.
These are not available to anyone except MPs and their guests "The Smoking Room provides an alternative to the Pugin Room for Members to entertain up to 3 guests, Mondays to Wednesdays, 3pm – 5.30pm. A range of beverages and light bites are on offer. The Smoking Room reverts to a Members only venue at 6pm."
But what about the starving socialist MP's !!
Will no one think of the poor reds ?
These are not available to anyone except MPs and their guests
In which case what do the cleaners, police, security, administors etc get in subsidy for thier canteen?
I also have no issue with subsidised canteens to a certain level of subsidy.
I know a HQ of a FTSE 100 where the staff subsidise the company through the canteen such are the prices
Sign the petition above ^^^
Much more relevant than posting here.
I have no problem with the concept of subsidised work canteens but the menu and prices which have been widely publicised demonstrate nothing but contempt.
Simplify the menu - remove items such as steak which, for many, would be a very occasional treat; one each of basic meat/fowl, fish and vegetarian should suffice.
State the level of subsidy for each dish and invite diners to make a contribution (equal to the level of subsidy); annually publish the amount of subsidy and value of donations.
The difference between the two would be...revealing.
There is no comparison with subsidised cafes/canteens/restaurants in corporates as they choose to use some of their profits to provide the subsidy as part of a wider package of employee benefits.
A profit driven organisation is totally different to one which is (or should be) public facing and public serving; MPs are, apparently, there to serve their constituents - not to indulge themselves at taxpayers expense.
In addition, MPs can claim expenditure on a wide variety of items through the relatively loose IPSA system.
As an aside, can they reclaim the cost of meals in the subsidised restaurants?
I recall having posted about this two or three times as part of the wider subject of MP benefits and questioning why any/all of the benefits were justified.
The costs aren’t even subsidised - see sales / opex break down linked to from this page:
The campaigners are ignoring a couple of things:
1. Most in house caterers (or outsourced) don’t pay business rates for the food prep / serve areas. In that respect they are “subsidised” but only to the extent that full commercial recharge of rent and rates is waved by the customer.
2. Most of the staff in the Houses of Parliament aren’t highly paid and also work pretty weird hours so the catering service has more in common with a manufacturing site with two to three shifts.
3. There’s not actually much alternative provision in the immediate area as the eateries on Victoria Street shut by 22:30 and are a good 15-20 mins walk away.
WCA has ABSOLUTELY nailed this!
Although I agree 1% their kinda line of reasoning... to evaporate into 0%
THEN, do I REALISE that gov’t are truly showing their true blue hypocritical colour brighter than Venus!
#BSSQUIREACHY&BSHYPOCRISY
Viva La WCA!
👨🎓