Free States Members lunches are back!

Friday 20 March 2015

Politicians have been quietly tucking into taxpayer-funded sandwiches since January after reversing a decision six years ago to scrap them.

But the cost to the public is a long way short of the £7 million food and drink subsidy that MPs get in the House of Commons every year – it’s estimated that the sandwiches are going to cost just over £5,000.

States Members will be asked to contribute to the cost at the end of the year, but have been told that the lunches will only be provided when there’s a States sitting on, and it’s expected to last all day.

According to their minutes, the Privileges and Procedures Committee that is responsible for States reform, discipline and services picked a sandwich supplier in December – the minutes, sadly, don’t record whether extensive taste-testing was required before they reached their decision.

In September 2009, the States agreed a proposition by then-Deputy Shona Pitman to scrap free lunches for politicians, but it only covered the next 12 months’ budget.