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TAXPAYERS have paid a £6 million bill last year to subsidise Parliament’s drinking habits, authorities revealed yesterday.
The House of Commons saw the cost of its restaurants and bars falling from £4.9 to £4.5 million. However the House of Lords racked up a total spending of £2.44 million in 2012-13.
“Much of the net cost to the House arises because of the irregular hours and unpredictability of parliamentary business,” said a spokeswoman for the Commons.
The figures usually include the gift shop’s income to offset catering costs, but without that revenue the House suffers a yearly deficit of millions.
The spokeswoman added that “food and drink prices are regularly reviewed and set at levels benchmarked against similar outlets outside the House.”
For the taxpayer, Parliament boozing still comes at a hefty price.
In contrast, the Tories' much reviled 2014 Budget measure of cutting beer duty meant a mere 1p saving per pint.
