MPs agree higher meal prices would save jobs

A group of MPs has agreed to pay more for meals in order to stave off job cuts among catering staff at the House of Commons.

Concern that there could be redundancies was raised after the catering department was asked to cut costs. The current catering subsidy stands at about £6m, but the target is to trim this by about 5% in the next year.

Last week, a group of MPs said it would be preferable for them and other well-paid workers, such as senior journalists and high-ranking police officers, to pay more realistic prices for their meals, rather than see catering staff face possible redundancies. More than 300 people work in the Commons catering department, serving an average of 7,000 subsidised meals at 19 bars and restaurants around the Palace of Westminster each day.

The director of catering, Sue Harrison, said that there was no immediate plan to raise prices, but she would consider it if it would save people's jobs.

In the first year of cost-saving measures, the target is to reduce the subsidy by £350,000 (5.8%). Harrison recently announced shorter menus and opening hours at some outlets, and she said this week: "While we will make every effort possible to avoid redundancies, we cannot rule them out."