Already showing it is OK for them to waste money

[Hookit]

Well good to see this government is leading by example.

Almost £18,000 has been spent topping up the Government wine cellar since the General Election, it has emerged - leading to calls that the entire collection should be sold off to raise money.

Foreign Office minister Henry Bellingham revealed that Government Hospitality, which manages the cellar, had spent £17,698 on new stock since May 6 - bringing the total value to £864,000 - though he insisted the standard practice of buying wines young saved money for the taxpayer.

£18,000 is more than most Public sector workers are paid and that is spent in less than a couple of months.

[ryoden]

If it's worth that much then i think they should sell it off, it's an asset that has no benefit other than pleasuring the gullet of some dignitary or parliamentarian. I don't have a problem with them spending money on effectively investing in an asset which increases in value (as long as it's used to sell on later in times of dire need as opposed to being drunk by our representatives)

[crazylilting]

I think i should taste it to see if it is really worth that much.

[Barry]

Daily Mirror, was it?

It's a drop in the ocean, and a scandal that the previous government had allowed stocks to get so low!

[AMGINGLES]

Sometimes you need to spend money to make money , how would you feel if you arrived at downing street , you would be nervous and would feel much better with a glass of champagne in your hand and if you are a multimillionaire business man that may just translate into tax dollars. This is not a scandal , it has been the perogative of the media to mix non-scandals with scandals so no one knows the difference anymore.

[Midas]

Well good to see this government is leading by example.

Almost £18,000 has been spent topping up the Government wine cellar since the General Election, it has emerged - leading to calls that the entire collection should be sold off to raise money.

Foreign Office minister Henry Bellingham revealed that Government Hospitality, which manages the cellar, had spent £17,698 on new stock since May 6 - bringing the total value to £864,000 - though he insisted the standard practice of buying wines young saved money for the taxpayer.

£18,000 is more than most Public sector workers are paid and that is spent in less than a couple of months.

As Barry says, it's a drop in ocean. Fine wines aren't the everyday fare of MPs, they only get used when entertaining people from around the world who could be worth tens or hundreds of millions of pounds to the British economy, and to skimp on hospitality at that level would be idiocy. One of the first things I learnt when embarking on a sales career many years ago is that often the perception of affluence can be as important in securing a deal as actual affluence, and many a deal can be made over a good meal complimented by a fine wine. This applies equally if you're trying to sell investment in your country's economy as it does in selling anything.

[Major Sinic]

Well good to see this government is leading by example.

Almost £18,000 has been spent topping up the Government wine cellar since the General Election, it has emerged - leading to calls that the entire collection should be sold off to raise money.

Foreign Office minister Henry Bellingham revealed that Government Hospitality, which manages the cellar, had spent £17,698 on new stock since May 6 - bringing the total value to £864,000 - though he insisted the standard practice of buying wines young saved money for the taxpayer.

£18,000 is more than most Public sector workers are paid and that is spent in less than a couple of months.

It is certainly less than the 5% pay decrease that all cabinet ministers in this government have awarded themselves. It is also certainly less than the savings being gained from the reduction in the use of government cars also implemented by this government. Contrary to your opinion, I would have said they are setting a rather good example.

Do you really expect official visitors, whether they be overseas business people, diplomats or other categories of VIP to be served a glass of water and a cheese sandwich as the measure of hospitality from the Palace of Westminster?

By the way the average public sector wage is £22405 per annum, some 7% higher than the private sector and with vastly better pension arrangements.

[Hookit]

It is certainly less than the 5% pay decrease that all cabinet ministers in this government have awarded themselves. It is also certainly less than the savings being gained from the reduction in the use of government cars also implemented by this government. Contrary to your opinion, I would have said they are setting a rather good example.

Do you really expect official visitors, whether they be overseas business people, diplomats or other categories of VIP to be served a glass of water and a cheese sandwich as the measure of hospitality from the Palace of Westminster?

By the way the average public sector wage is £22405 per annum, some 7% higher than the private sector and with vastly better pension arrangements.

By the way the average public sector wage is £22405 per annum the last I read in the public sector paper was just over £18,000 a year we clearly get info from differant sauces.

As for visitors to this country why do we have to give them booze I do not always drink to enjoy a meal so why should we foot the bill for them to drink high quality wine. Whats wrong with good British beer.

It cost more to have private sector to do public sector work not only do they have to pay wages the private sector want to make a profit. When you look at the whole sum of employing private sector it does cost more unless you expect the owners of the business not to make a profit? There is far more than just a wage bill.

[Major Sinic]

By the way the average public sector wage is £22405 per annum the last I read in the public sector paper was just over £18,000 a year we clearly get info from differant sauces.

As for visitors to this country why do we have to give them booze I do not always drink to enjoy a meal so why should we foot the bill for them to drink high quality wine. Whats wrong with good British beer.

It cost more to have private sector to do public sector work not only do they have to pay wages the private sector want to make a profit. When you look at the whole sum of employing private sector it does cost more unless you expect the owners of the business not to make a profit? There is far more than just a wage bill.

My source as I have previously advised you was the Office of National Statistics.

If you need it explaining yet again why it is manners, etiquette and overall of benefit to the nation to provide a good standard of hospitality to visiting overseas dignitaries and assorted VIPs then it is not worth the bother. Even a prole like John Prescott could grasp this one!