So long as they all had a good time....

The House of Commons Annual Accounts somehow neglected to report the annual accounts for the Commons Refreshment Department for 2007-08.

But never fear, leaks and studies have feretted them out. It seems that in that year the Department operated at a loss of £5.5 million, which was made good by the taxpayers. This amounts to be about £8,500 per MP., which is a large item bearing in mind how much they receive in other directions. This also amounts to be about £50 per day per MP, adding to the groceries and other bills for which they are paid by us. The subsidy covers approximately only 43% of the operating costs.

It may have escaped the attention of the Refreshment Committee (of MPs) because it represented an increase of 15% , or nearly £700,000 on the previous years. The rest of us may be tightening our belts, but our MPs and their guests do not seem to have started.

The main reason for the loss seems to be the level of prices charged on drinks, which seem to be only a half or even a third of those charged for the same drinks in nearby central London hostelries.

It seems that whatever the perks of being an MP provide, being a member of one of the cheapest London Gentleman's Clubs" must be near the top of the list.