Ministry of Carousing
15 housing officials enjoy £100,000 Cannes junket
TAXPAYERS footed a £98,687 bill for 15 housing officials to go on a jolly to the French Riviera – to network with British bodies.
Four delegates from the Ministry of Housing and 11 from Homes England flew to Cannes for the MIPIM property conference this month.
There was a welcome bash with champagne, stilt walkers and a live band. And all delegates had access to unlimited free alcohol and canapes, and could join cocktail parties at sundown.
Defending the jaunt, Housing Minister Heather Wheeler MP said: “MIPIM is attended by most cities and combined authorities in the UK. [It] presents an opportunity for Government to engage with these local and combined authority leaders and support them in promoting the opportunities that exist to global investors.” But there was an outcry as the junket came amid a shortage of affordable homes caused by years of Tory austerity.
Record numbers are being put up in temporary accommodation – costing taxpayers £1billion a year.
Shadow Housing Secretary John Healey said: “If civil servants need to ‘engage’ with council leaders a train to Manchester or Sheffield would do just as well.”
He had asked in a written parliamentary question how many staff attended MIPIM and what the cost was.
Mrs Wheeler responded: “The Ministry of Housing contributed £50,000 and spent approximately £2,789.44 on staff transport, accommodation and subsistence. The cost to Homes England was £45,898.20.”
Homes England is an executive non-departmental public body funded by the Ministry of Housing.