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Lord Speaker's expenses reveal £230 bill for chauffeur to wait outside opera Lord Speaker's expenses reveal £230 bill for chauffeur to wait outside opera
(35 minutes later)
The House of Lords is at the centre of a fresh expenses row after its speaker racked up big bills for chauffeur-driven cars to wait for her while she was at the opera and having lunch in central London.The House of Lords is at the centre of a fresh expenses row after its speaker racked up big bills for chauffeur-driven cars to wait for her while she was at the opera and having lunch in central London.
Baroness Frances D’Souza, a crossbench peer who is in charge of keeping order in the Lords, kept a chauffeur waiting for four hours at a cost of £230 while she watched a performance of Benjamin Britten’s Gloriana with the chairman of the Federation Council of Russia. The journey was just a mile from the Houses of Parliament. Lady D’Souza, a crossbench peer who is in charge of keeping order in the Lords, kept a chauffeur waiting for four hours at a cost of £230 while she watched a performance of Benjamin Britten’s Gloriana with the chairman of the Federation Council of Russia. The journey was just a mile from the Houses of Parliament.
She also spent £270 holding a car for four and a half hours while she had lunch with the Japanese ambassador in central London, and £738 keeping a luxury Mercedes parked for up to 10 hours during an event at Windsor Castle.She also spent £270 holding a car for four and a half hours while she had lunch with the Japanese ambassador in central London, and £738 keeping a luxury Mercedes parked for up to 10 hours during an event at Windsor Castle.
Using a Mercedes to get from Westminster to Canterbury for the enthronement of Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury, in March 2013 cost £627 – with her Commons counterpart, John Bercow, making exactly the same journey in a separate car for £525.Using a Mercedes to get from Westminster to Canterbury for the enthronement of Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury, in March 2013 cost £627 – with her Commons counterpart, John Bercow, making exactly the same journey in a separate car for £525.
The Lord Speaker has also spent tens of thousands of pounds on travel, flying business class, staying in hotels costing up to £300 a night, and ordering £123 of room service for a “breakfast meeting”.The Lord Speaker has also spent tens of thousands of pounds on travel, flying business class, staying in hotels costing up to £300 a night, and ordering £123 of room service for a “breakfast meeting”.
Details of the expenses incurred by the peer – a former university lecturer who earns a salary of more than £100,000 for a largely ceremonial role and does not require an official car for security purposes – have been released following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by the Press Association.Details of the expenses incurred by the peer – a former university lecturer who earns a salary of more than £100,000 for a largely ceremonial role and does not require an official car for security purposes – have been released following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by the Press Association.
The information on the speaker’s expenses has previously been limited, but was released in the wake of a landmark court of appeal ruling on the scope of FoI. The information on speakers’ expenses has previously been limited, but was released in the wake of a landmark court of appeal ruling on the scope of FoI.
Tim Farron, the leader of the Lib Dems, said the disclosure showed “the good work of our peers has been overshadowed by members of the Lords who show disregard for their status and responsibility as public servants”.Tim Farron, the leader of the Lib Dems, said the disclosure showed “the good work of our peers has been overshadowed by members of the Lords who show disregard for their status and responsibility as public servants”.
Earlier this year a similar disclosure for Bercow, the Commons Speaker, revealed a £172 bill for attending a conference less than a mile from parliament.Earlier this year a similar disclosure for Bercow, the Commons Speaker, revealed a £172 bill for attending a conference less than a mile from parliament.
The details of Tuesday’s FoI disclosure reveal that: The details of Tuesday’s FoI disclosure include revelations that:
A 10-day official trip to Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan in the autumn of last year left a bill of nearly £26,000. Accompanied by three officials, Lady D’Souza flew BA business class to Tokyo and back from Hong Kong at a cost of £3,281. Her “executive deluxe” room at the five-star Le Méridien Taipei on 5 October was £248. A 10-day official trip to Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan in the autumn of last year left a bill of nearly £26,000. Accompanied by three officials, D’Souza flew BA business class to Tokyo and back from Hong Kong at a cost of £3,281. Her “executive deluxe” room at the five-star Le Méridien Taipei on 5 October was £248.
The following morning there was a £123 tab for “in-room dining” for the party and two local British officials – including fresh orange juice, fresh grapefruit juice, watermelon juice, coffee and “fruits”. A Lords spokesman said the group was holding a “breakfast meeting” to discuss the “priorities for the visit”. The following morning there was a £123 tab for “in-room dining” for the party and two local British officials – including fresh orange juice, fresh grapefruit juice, watermelon juice, coffee and “fruits”. A Lords spokesman said the group was holding a breakfast meeting to discuss the “priorities for the visit”.
That night, Lady D’Souza was in a king executive harbour view room at the Conrad hotel in Hong Kong, costing £293. That night, D’Souza was in a king executive harbour view room at the Conrad hotel in Hong Kong, costing £293.
A House of Lords spokesman said: “The Lord Speaker usually drives herself to events she attends as a representative of the House of Lords.A House of Lords spokesman said: “The Lord Speaker usually drives herself to events she attends as a representative of the House of Lords.
“However, at events she has attended at high-profile venues including those that you have highlighted, the security requirements of the hosts often require that she is brought in a car which must also wait for her departure.“However, at events she has attended at high-profile venues including those that you have highlighted, the security requirements of the hosts often require that she is brought in a car which must also wait for her departure.
“The hosts often do not permit a separate car to be sent to collect guests, for security reasons. The Lord Speaker’s office always explores the possibility of booking separate cars in order to ensure best value for money.“The hosts often do not permit a separate car to be sent to collect guests, for security reasons. The Lord Speaker’s office always explores the possibility of booking separate cars in order to ensure best value for money.
“Part of the Lord Speaker’s role is to represent the house at international conferences and foreign parliaments. Significant efforts are made to ensure travel is booked in the most cost-effective way possible.“Part of the Lord Speaker’s role is to represent the house at international conferences and foreign parliaments. Significant efforts are made to ensure travel is booked in the most cost-effective way possible.
“As part of international visits modest gifts are sometimes exchanged. Gifts given by the Lord Speaker are almost always sourced from the House of Lords gift shop.”“As part of international visits modest gifts are sometimes exchanged. Gifts given by the Lord Speaker are almost always sourced from the House of Lords gift shop.”