MPs to pay for their own coffee at House committees
MPs attending committee hearings in Parliament will have to bring their own coffee from now on following a decision by Speaker Evangelos Meimarakis to stop the serving of free coffee, cookies and bottled water after it emerged that more than 10,000 euros were spent during 44 sessions.
In a statement released on Thursday, Meimarakis said “complementary items from the canteen” would no longer be served during committee sessions.
Last month, Meimarakis asked for more information about how the House spent almost 17,000 euros on coffee and biscuits between the end of October and the beginning of January.
The outlay was revealed after Parliament published the 13 invoices for the food and beverages on its website, prompting widespread criticism.
The House has been the focus of frequent complaints during the crisis as large amounts of taxpayers’ money are spent on its employees and expenses.
