Austerity diet for parliament

THE days of the parliamentary smoked salmon sandwich are numbered as the institution starts to trim the fat from its budget.

National Assembly chairman Cedric Frolick announced the measures during the parliamentary budget debate this week, saying the excessive food at committee meetings was “eating” the budget and would be cut back to the “bare minimum”.

Frolick told the Sunday Times that committee meetings often consisted of just 11 MPs and about five support staff but were receiving catering for up to 40 people.

Catering at these commit- tees regularly consisted of cereals, yoghurt, fruit and large containers of nuts for breakfast; sandwiches featuring toppings such as smoked chicken and salmon; and sweet treats such as scones and chocolate-coated raisins.

If a meeting continued until lunch time, a second round of platters was brought in, bearing lamb chops, miniature pies and other finger foods.

He could not say what savings they were hoping to make, but said the committee chairs would take control of the spending.

Also set to go is spending on renting of space outside parliament. Due to a lack of meeting space in parliament, meetings were being held at a cost of nearly R500 000 in just a three-month period last year.

Frolick referenced the longawaited Space Utilisation Project, saying plans to expand the precinct would be reprised.

Parliament would also act against MPs who didn’t arrive for flights or hotel accommodation. “Members . . . mustn’t expect to go on overseas study trips when they aren’t doing the work in their own country,” said Frolick.

Parliament has installed high-definition video conferencing facilities in three committee rooms in a bid to reduce travel for officials.

Frolick said the facilities were “ready to go” but were not widely used.