The Palace of Westminster could host wedding receptions under plans to cut Parliament's subsidized catering bill. The Commons Administration Committee has suggested even the historic Westminster Hall could be hired out for private functions at £25,000 a time. Dining areas including the Terrace alongside the River Thames may also be opened to the public. They are among proposals aimed at halving the £5.7m annual loss made by the catering operation at Westminster.
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The cross-party committee of MPs said that healthier lifestyles and stricter working practices had reduced formal lunching and left Parliament's four main dining rooms underoccupied.Although steps have been taken to cut losses, including prices rises last year to raise an extra £1.27m, the committee said it was reasonable to maintain some subsidy for the 13,000 people working at Westminster, given Parliament's irregular hours and long recesses. The MPs said it was "neither feasible nor desirable" to allow members of the public access to facilities when the House was sitting.
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