MPs whinge about their £15 dinners
Regis Magnae
Posts: 6,810 Forum Member
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9970282/MPs-complain-dinner-expenses-rules-not-generous-enough.html
I'd do away with the allowance. Would that be simple enough for him?
In a hearing with the expenses watchdog, MPs raised a variety of complaints about their dinner allowance, which they may claim up to the value of £15 when "required to be at the House of Commons” because it is sitting beyond 7:30pm.
Thomas Docherty, a Labour MP, said it is “ludicrous” that non-London MPs only get to claim for an evening meal after that time on sitting days.
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Kevan Jones, a shadow Labour defence minister, also pointed out that MPs only get £15 per night towards dinner when the rate is around £24 for civil servants and, according to one of his colleagues, £29 for serving soldiers.
The Ministry of Defence said soldiers usually get a daily subsistence rate of just £8.50 or £25 for all three meals if they are away from their base on a course.
...
Mr Jones said: "IPSA have made some improvements in the scheme but things like the subsistence allowance seem very arbitrary in the way they are being implemented. What we need to do is simplify the system to make it less bureaucratic for claiming and cheaper for the taxpayer."
I'd do away with the allowance. Would that be simple enough for him?
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Spoiled brats.
Because they make the rules, not us?
This is only the tip of the problem - the H of C bars and restaurants are all subsdised by the taxpayer. I believe the total amount runs into millions.
Everyone has that 'allowance' - when work is overnight then any food supplied is tax free up to £15 - that however is not for dinner but all food during the day.
No sympathy for MPs if that is not enough - if it is not enough for them maybe they can get HMRC to increase the dispensation for meals then.
I know. It should be stopped immediately as a cost cutting measure.
Anyone that is paid a wage should meet their own food bills.
Even if we work through lunch these days we have to take our own sandwiches and the age of even getting a cup of tea or a biscuit at a long meeting have gone. If low paid staff in both the private and public sector have to meet these costs themselves I don't see why high paid MPs need subsidised arrangements.
By all means provide them with a restaurant selling sandwiches, snacks and meals but don't subsidise it. And don't serve alcohol either - most of us would be dismissed for gross misconduct if we drank on work premises.
Many in the public sector are being strongly discouraged from claiming meals even where the allowance exists - and in most cases are not permitted so far from base that they would need to!
From the Horse mouth (HMRC) http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/briefs/income-tax/brief2409.htm
where do i sign up for £15 per day on top of my wages ???
Indeed, that is when my employer started taxing relevant employees on it (I started there after that date)
Have never and would never vote for a single one of these self-serving parasites.
Travel and Subsistence: MPs may claim for certain travel and subsistence expenses, including food and non-alcoholic drinks, incurred in relation to their parliamentary duties. This includes journeys between the constituency and Westminster, travel within the constituency, extended UK travel and journeys to the EU, all subject to specific limitations and conditions set out by IPSA. MPs may also claim for travel and subsistence expenses incurred for family members and members of their staff, again subject to specific conditions. Claims may also be made in relation to late night parliamentary sittings for hotel accommodation and taxi fares.
http://www.politics.co.uk/reference/mps-pay-and-expenses
The house Scotch in the HoC bars is Edradour - a single malt costing upwards from £30 per bottle.
http://www.masterofmalt.com/distilleries/edradour-whisky-distillery/
Compared to the average house Scotch which would probably be something like Glenfiddich...
http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=animal-farm-prereading-quiz
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others!!
If you are travelling on business you might be able to claim an amount for food back in expenses but it isn't as generous as what MPs get and there are certainly no subsidised fine dining restaurants like there is in Parliament. If you work late in the office there is no company catering anyway and they certainly won't pay for you to eat out.
Most of the employees don't earn what an MP does either.
I don't see why MPs should get it both ways - they get taxpayers to subsidise their restaurants and bars, and they want the taxpayer to pay for the rest anyway. Plus any food they buy for their taxpayer-funded London homes.
It's time things were brought into line based on the typical taxpayer, the ones paying for all this.
And it's ALL part of the public sector and funded by us taxpayers... who also have to cough for the 30% payrise they voted themselves...