guardian.co.uk,
Rajeev Syal, Tuesday 1 May 2012
MPs’ drinks are to be topped up less frequently under new guidelines issued by the Commons Commission. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA |
House of Commons staff are being ordered to top up MPs' glasses less frequently at
functions amid concerns over the drinking culture at Westminster.
They will
also receive training on how to refuse to serve drunken customers, and opening
hours of bars on the estate could also be curtailed.
The moves
by the Commons Commission follow the bar brawl which led to Eric Joyce's
conviction for punching and butting Tory MPs.
A spokesman
for the cross-party committee said it agreed at a meeting that "a wider
range of non-alcoholic drinks and lower strength beers will be provided in
catering outlets".
Staff
serving alcohol will "receive further training and support in refusing to
serve customers when necessary", and "at receptions and events where
alcohol was served, glasses would be topped up less frequently".
A
consultation is also to be held on the opening hours of bars on the
Parliamentary Estate, and there will be efforts to publicise health and welfare
support on offer to politicians and House staff.
Additionally,
the Commission has acted to cut the amount of money being spent on olive trees
which have been criticised for being a waste of money.
The cost of
maintaining the shrubs, which dominate the MPs' new offices in Portcullis
House, has been around £44m a year. The Commission says it has negotiated the
maintenance deal of £18.5m which will include other shrubs on the parliamentary
estate.
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