Petition · past parliament
End the claiming of alcohol on expenses, and subsidy of alcohol prices for MPs
Rejected
19 signatures
What the petition asks
End subsidy and reimbursement of expenses for alcoholic drinks by Members of Parliament, their staff, officials and guests.
If members of parliament, their staff and guests wish to drink alcohol in Westminster Palace and other Government buildings, they should pay local prices. End subsidisation and reimbursement.
It is unethical for members of parliament and their staff to claim expenditure for alcoholic beverages on expenses.
Our representatives are in Parliament to work, not consume alcohol. Whilst their is no harm in sensible drinking, the taxpayer should not fund or subsidise it.
It is unethical for members of parliament and their staff to claim expenditure for alcoholic beverages on expenses.
Our representatives are in Parliament to work, not consume alcohol. Whilst their is no harm in sensible drinking, the taxpayer should not fund or subsidise it.
Why it was rejected
The UK Government or Parliament was already taking the action it asked for.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is responsible for deciding on MPs' expenses and pay. IPSA is independent of both Parliament and Government. IPSA's expenses scheme sets out that MPs cannot claim for alcohol. You can read the scheme here
https://www.theipsa.org.uk/publications/the-scheme
You can find out how to contact IPSA here:
http://www.theipsa.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/
Catering services for the House of Commons are provided by an in-house team who do not provide a subsidised service in the commercial sense of the word. Parliament provides a range of catering services to Members, House staff, the Press Gallery and a large number of visitors. As a workplace this includes staff canteens that are available for people who work in Parliament. The services aren’t directly subsidised, but they unavoidably come at a cost due to the irregular and unpredictable hours that Parliament works. The service continuously seeks to reduce costs whilst regularly benchmarking their prices with venues outside of Parliament.
https://www.theipsa.org.uk/publications/the-scheme
You can find out how to contact IPSA here:
http://www.theipsa.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/
Catering services for the House of Commons are provided by an in-house team who do not provide a subsidised service in the commercial sense of the word. Parliament provides a range of catering services to Members, House staff, the Press Gallery and a large number of visitors. As a workplace this includes staff canteens that are available for people who work in Parliament. The services aren’t directly subsidised, but they unavoidably come at a cost due to the irregular and unpredictable hours that Parliament works. The service continuously seeks to reduce costs whilst regularly benchmarking their prices with venues outside of Parliament.
Timeline
| 23 Aug 2022 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 24 Aug 2022 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
19
Status
Rejected
Rejected
24 Aug 2022
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.