Public invited to dine in cash-conscious parliament
Tuesday, 10 May 2011 5:17 PM
Members of the public will be able to add parliament to their list of places to take cream teas under changes proposed today.
MPs on the Commons' administration committee have recommended opening the Palace of Westminster's gates to the public in a bid to help finance catering arrangements for parliamentarians and their staff.
If plans published today are accepted by the House of Commons Commission, both restaurants and the terrace overlooking the River Thames would become available for the public to enjoy "for meals or afternoon teas" when parliament is not in session.
MPs also propose making Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the Palace, available for hire on a handful of occasions each year for private banqueting events.
Some parts of the Palace could even become wedding venues, although only tentative steps are being taken towards this possibility.
The plans would require approval from Buckingham Palace as the venue is part of a royal palace, but MPs believe the steps are a key part of wider proposals which will help cut the cost of catering by £1.2 million by 2014/15.
The total subsidy for parliamentary food and other goods has reached £6 million, prompting David Cameron to implement moderate price hikes last year after he made a speech criticising the cheap food and alcohol MPs enjoy
Problems remain, however. The cafe at the end of the tourist route around parliament makes a "thumping loss", according to committee chair Sir Alan Haselhurst.
Today's recommendations also include plans to establish a high street shop on the corner of Parliament Street and Parliament Square and new 'works of art' tours around the Palace.
They also include a staff discount scheme and widening access to underused dining rooms, giving journalists more access.
Committee chair Sir Alan said: "The House of Commons is more like a small town than a large organisation. Our catering service provides seven or eight thousand meals a day.
"The catering services provided to MPs and the thousands of staff and others who work for parliament, and the thousands more who visit, needs to be provided as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
"The proposals we have made today would see substantial cost-savings, whilst also opening up more facilities to members of the public of our staff."
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