10 February 2024 , 19:57
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Peers and Parliament staff scoffed almost 3,000 bags of Cheese and Onion crisps last year, making it the House of Lords’ favourite snack.
The Walkers potato snacks topped the list of confectionery items sold by Lords retail outlets, shifting 2,580 bags. It was closely followed by Walkers’ Salt and Vinegar variety, selling 2,332, with the standard four-finger Kit Kat in third place, selling 2,298.
Last week this newspaper revealed Peers’ favourite tipple was San Miguel lager, with almost 15,000 pints of the beverage sold in the subsidised cafes and bars around the estate last year. And the Lords showed themselves to be unusually down to earth, compared to their House of Commons counterparts.
Last year, we revealed the most popular confectionery items sold in Commons catering outlets were cream tea scones - with MPs and staff members tucking into more than 50 orders of scones and tea a day in 2021-22. It was followed on the list by carrot cake - which sold nearly 16,000, and cartons of Ribena, which sold 14,800.
Parliament contains more than a dozen restaurants, cafes and kiosks selling food, drink and treats to the hundreds of people working on the estate. The Lords alone contains nine bars, cafes and dining rooms serving hot food, booze and snacks.
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Last year we revealed MPs had moaned to Commons officials after being asked to pay more for food, despite dishes being subsidised by taxpayers – and still at bargain prices when compared with high street rates.
For example, a bowl of soup has risen from 94p to £1.05 and lamb-topped jacket potatoes from £2.79 to £3.30. In comparison, a typical soup at Pret a Manger costs £3.50 and a cheese jacket in a Tesco cafe is £4.95. The meal moans emerged in a list of parliament complaints but officials spared the whingers – on basic salaries of £84,000 – embarrassment by not including their names.
A Commons spokesman said at the time: “Our venues serve thousands every week, including visitors, MPs and journalists, as well as the staff who keep Parliament running.”