Fucking Expensive Fact Finding

"Mmmmmm, First Class All The Way!"

£1.4 MILLION a year to find a few "facts":-

"Between April 2007 and April 2008, globetrotting MPs - many members of committees concerned with domestic policy - visited California, Washington and New York, Canada, Beijing, Bali, Bermuda and the Grand Cayman Islands. Documents prepared by select committee members have also revealed they have already booked excursions for this year and next, with 70 per cent of their allocated budget spent.

Trips include:

A £49,332 excursion to Ecuador and Peru to look at the cocaine trade for the home affairs delegation.

A visit to South Africa for the justice team looking at the role of the prison officer abroad for £48,051.

A £55,712 trip to Washington DC to look at social worker training by the children, schools and families team.

A £57,861 visit to New York by culture, media and sport to look at press standards and privacy laws.

A tour of Chicago, Washington and New York by the Treasury who want to examine the banking crisis first hand at a cost to the taxpayer of £59,043.

Flights and hotel bills will be covered in advance for those involved. An allowance will also be given to each MP to spend on meals and travel, based on a rate issued by the Foreign Office. MPs do not need to provide receipts for the money spent or return unspent allowances."

From the Evening Standard

Why don't they use Google? Oh, they are MPs....

The Penguin