Commons food prices are hard to swallow say MPs

A senior Labour backbencher has complained that "five star hotel" prices are now being charged.

The increases are "unjustified", said a Conservative MP who dismissed some food as
"literally uneatable".

One former Home Office minister complained that the salads were "too cold" and a Tory MP attacked allegedly poor cleanliness standards in the restaurants, including a mouse given the name "Albert".

The biggest row is over a new "all or as little as you can eat" £15 flat fee for one or three courses introduced in the MPs' ornate dining room overlooking the Thames.

However, MPs can claim £15 from expenses for dinner when the House is sitting after 7.30pm.

The Commons authorities increased the cost of fare this autumn to save £500,000 and to better reflect high street prices.

Some items have gone up sharply though many dishes in the main Commons cafeterias will still be seen by the public as being cheap.

They include slow-cooked shoulder of British lamb with herb and honey glaze at £2.95 and steamed ginger fish of the day with vegetable egg noodles at £3.90 — vegetables are extra.

Labour MP Brian Donohoe said: "The price hike will drive the MPs out the dining areas and will be replaced by the corporates.

"The prices in the facilities have got to five star hotel levels — ie two glasses of wine in the Pugin Room £14.00, six cups of tea £10.50. I don't expect to pay that in my works canteen'."

Tory MP Laurence Robertson criticised the "sub-standard" food in the Strangers café. "On occasions, it is literally uneatable," he said.

"The standards of catering in the palace is mixed and I do not, therefore, believe that price increases can be justified."

Former Labour minister Fiona Mactaggart complained: "The salads in the members tea room are too cold."

Tory backbench MP David Davies said: "There is a huge problem with mice and rats. On one instance I saw a mouse roaming the terrace café.

"When I pointed it out to a member of staff she shrugged and told me that We call him Albert and he always pops out at this time.'"

A group of Liberal Democrats have boycotted the MPs' dining room. Mr Donohue said he had not claimed a penny for food or drink since the election and believes there should not be a subsidy.