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| Commons hospitality list revealed | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| MPs booked facilities in the House of Commons for everything from a display of Afghan carpets to a classic car rally, new details have revealed. | MPs booked facilities in the House of Commons for everything from a display of Afghan carpets to a classic car rally, new details have revealed. |
| David Cameron was the most hospitable of the party leaders with 16 bookings including tea with lady freemasons and hosting national smile month's launch. | David Cameron was the most hospitable of the party leaders with 16 bookings including tea with lady freemasons and hosting national smile month's launch. |
| MPs from all parties made regular use of the facilities, which include dining rooms and a terrace pavilion. | MPs from all parties made regular use of the facilities, which include dining rooms and a terrace pavilion. |
| The figures, from 2004 to 2009, are from the Commons banqueting office. | The figures, from 2004 to 2009, are from the Commons banqueting office. |
| The House of Commons has a number of private dining facilities that can be booked by MPs, peers, all party groups or Commons committees for events. Use of the rooms is free but any food or hospitality must be paid for. | The House of Commons has a number of private dining facilities that can be booked by MPs, peers, all party groups or Commons committees for events. Use of the rooms is free but any food or hospitality must be paid for. |
| The majority of the events listed by the banqueting office were receptions or dinners for causes which the MPs are on record as supporting, political functions or meetings with community groups. | The majority of the events listed by the banqueting office were receptions or dinners for causes which the MPs are on record as supporting, political functions or meetings with community groups. |
| 'One-off consultancy' | 'One-off consultancy' |
| But accusations are already starting to fly about possible conflicts of interest. | But accusations are already starting to fly about possible conflicts of interest. |
| Former Health Minister Patricia Hewitt used Commons banqueting facilities to host events for BT in December 2008 and February 2009. She joined the company as a non-executive director in March 2008. | Former Health Minister Patricia Hewitt used Commons banqueting facilities to host events for BT in December 2008 and February 2009. She joined the company as a non-executive director in March 2008. |
| Communities and Local Government Secretary John Denham used a Parliamentary room for a Breakfast for AXA Derbak in June 2006, when he was a backbencher. | Communities and Local Government Secretary John Denham used a Parliamentary room for a Breakfast for AXA Derbak in June 2006, when he was a backbencher. |
| The register of members interests published in November 2006 shows he declared a "one-off consultancy" with AXA to advise on a research project and publication on employer pension provision, for which he was paid "up to £5,000". | The register of members interests published in November 2006 shows he declared a "one-off consultancy" with AXA to advise on a research project and publication on employer pension provision, for which he was paid "up to £5,000". |
| Under the rules, MPs and peers are not meant to use the facilities for "direct or indirect financial or material gain by a sponsor, political party, or any other person or outside organisation", with the exception of charities. | |
| But they may be allowed to hold events in which they have an interest provided they declare it and make it clear on the invitation, at the discretion of the banqueting office. | But they may be allowed to hold events in which they have an interest provided they declare it and make it clear on the invitation, at the discretion of the banqueting office. |
| The regulations also state that "it is appropriate for the private dining rooms to be used for political functions or for 'lobbying purposes'" but product promotions and book launches are banned. | The regulations also state that "it is appropriate for the private dining rooms to be used for political functions or for 'lobbying purposes'" but product promotions and book launches are banned. |
| Hospitality league | Hospitality league |
| Among the more unusual items on the list, Labour MP Richard Burden held classic car rallies on the Terrace Pavilion in 2004 and 2006. Labour MP and former education secretary Estelle Morris used the same venue, which overlooks the Thames, to host a Turner Whistler Monet Exhibition Launch. | Among the more unusual items on the list, Labour MP Richard Burden held classic car rallies on the Terrace Pavilion in 2004 and 2006. Labour MP and former education secretary Estelle Morris used the same venue, which overlooks the Thames, to host a Turner Whistler Monet Exhibition Launch. |
| Conservative MP Tony Baldry held a display of Afghan carpets in the Strangers Dining Room in March 2008. | Conservative MP Tony Baldry held a display of Afghan carpets in the Strangers Dining Room in March 2008. |
| Sir Winston Churchill's grandson, Tory MP Nicholas Soames, held a reception for his mother, Lady Soames, in the Churchill Dining Rooms in March 2004. | Sir Winston Churchill's grandson, Tory MP Nicholas Soames, held a reception for his mother, Lady Soames, in the Churchill Dining Rooms in March 2004. |
| Lib Dem MP Dr Evan Harris comes top of the hospitality league, with 89 bookings over the five year period, including a series of breakfasts with free market think tank the Adam Smith Institute, healthcare and bioethics receptions and a lunch with the BBC. | Lib Dem MP Dr Evan Harris comes top of the hospitality league, with 89 bookings over the five year period, including a series of breakfasts with free market think tank the Adam Smith Institute, healthcare and bioethics receptions and a lunch with the BBC. |
| Labour MP and chairman of the Commons education committee Barry Sheerman runs him a close second with 88 bookings, mostly receptions for industry and educational groups, including Arcadia University, the US college for which he works part-time as an academic consultant. | |
| 'Dodgy' | 'Dodgy' |
| Conservative leader David Cameron hosted three receptions for the Dental Health Foundation in 2006 and 2007 and twice used the Commons to launch National Smile Month and Mouth Cancer Week. He also treated West Oxfordshire Lady Freemasons to tea in October 2008. | Conservative leader David Cameron hosted three receptions for the Dental Health Foundation in 2006 and 2007 and twice used the Commons to launch National Smile Month and Mouth Cancer Week. He also treated West Oxfordshire Lady Freemasons to tea in October 2008. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg do not appear to have booked any rooms during the period covered by the report. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg do not appear to have booked any rooms during the period covered by the report. |
| Lib Dem transport and former environment spokesman Norman Baker, who hosted an eclectic range of events including breakfast with oil giant Shell, a Friends of the Earth reception and lunch with the Nappy Alliance, said: "Most MPs use the facilities in a reasonable way. | Lib Dem transport and former environment spokesman Norman Baker, who hosted an eclectic range of events including breakfast with oil giant Shell, a Friends of the Earth reception and lunch with the Nappy Alliance, said: "Most MPs use the facilities in a reasonable way. |
| "The ones that are dodgy is where you have a pattern of someone who has booked a room regularly and who then asks Parliamentary questions or gets a job. | "The ones that are dodgy is where you have a pattern of someone who has booked a room regularly and who then asks Parliamentary questions or gets a job. |
| "There are MPs who booked rooms for lobby groups and you have to ask who these lobby group are representing. The best answer to it is transparency." | "There are MPs who booked rooms for lobby groups and you have to ask who these lobby group are representing. The best answer to it is transparency." |
| The details were revealed following a Freedom of Information request. | The details were revealed following a Freedom of Information request. |