to think that it it not unreasonable for MPs to claim for Christmas cards?

[gerontius]

Yes, some MPs have been screwing everybody recently. I'm not trying to support them at all here.
But I read in the Independent that one MP's claim for Christmas cards was turned down. However, this was for 4000 Christmas cards costing £750. Presumably almost all of these were job-related i.e. not sent to people he would send to normally. So why isn't he allowed to claim for this clearly job-related expense?

(On another topic entirely, if they're all sending this many Christmas cards, isn't that a massive waste of paper?

yanbu

No I think christmas cards are a legitimate business expense in certain jobs.

I don't object to them buying sofas for their second home either tbh. They've got to plonk their ample arses somewhere.

I just don't think they should take the piss.

If work-related, I have no problem with MPs claiming Christmas cards - any business would claim these.
Although agree that e-cards would seem more logical...

Maybe foreign ministers get offended if you don't send them cards on real paper.

e-cards more environmentally friendly...

I personally think it's probably a waste of money tax payers or not.

And I would imagine many of them would go to local party faithful if so why does the party not fund it?

HBLB- the MOD does a nice line in sofas if they just need somewhere for their ample bottoms (but that's not good enough for them??) Oh and they'd be a hell of alot cheaper!!!

I think it's completely acceptable, if they were all to do with Parliamentary business. I've only worked in the public and voluntary sectors, and would never have paid myself to send out cards to work-related contacts; I wouldn't have bothered doing it if I'd had to foot the bill! There are some things in this whole expenses business that are completely reasonable, but are being made out to seem preposterous.

he should have bought cheaper cards
poundshop do 50 cards for £1

The MOD does sofas?

The Ministry of Defence?

I'm intrigued.

Maybe they're sofas with, I don't know, grenades in somewhere. That'd be something to show visitors.

www.armedforces-int.com/categories/military-furniture/army-sofa-aluminium-case.asp
Cool MOD style sofas-in-a-box.

What do you think goes into furnished military accomodatioon or barracks???? {grin] standerd issues sofas

and really not what you'd get in john lewis either!!!

I have visions of the MOD's warehouses

Tanks
Grenades
Cruise Missiles
Sofas
Bullets

Etc

??

Ah now all becomes clear

Wondered why I'd never heard of sofa warfare

Believe me you'd really be surprised at what you can get issued with. It is trusly like that (although not in the same warehouse

dinning tables, cots, wardrobes. etc.

same as for any furnished accomodation married quarters does it so do MP's really need the "john Lewis" list??

If it's good enough for HM Forces surely it's good enough for them .

I have completely digressed and apologie whoeheartedly to the OP!

Also apolgise for punctation etc need to sleep....

I wonder if our MP (John Redwood)claimed for the 18th birthday cards he sent DS & DD?

Waste of money, if so; they went straight in the wpb...

I'm actually really interested in this whole MoD furniture thing. Do other departments have it too?

racks brains trying to think of another government ministry

Foreign office has a catalogue from which it buys furniture for its staff, but people don't get new stuff just because they're new in a job: there's guidance on how long furniture lasts and that's that. People who've been around a long time can always remember friends from previous overseas jobs who had the same curtains or sofa fabric as someone else as the catalogue has been around for such a long time .....

that's staff OVERSEAS, btw, not when they're in the UK

I am just astonished that a govt dept issues furniture to employees.

It's just so... soviet.

I agree, and I think it's reasonable for MPs to claim for biscuits for committee meetings - we feed our visitors a lot of biscuits (public sector organisation), and I certainly wouldn't expect to pay for them routinely.

For MOD furniture stuff speak to the ladies on the forces sweetheart threads they know about it

It's what's in most married quarters, unless you have your own stuff, and in baracks or on bases. It really is standard issue (not the sofa linked to above tho') and is designed to last (not designed for appearance iyswim) the sofas come with removable washable covers (in a variety of delightful colours ) and are reissued when required (not necessarily with each move out)

Same goes for much of the other stuff necessary to furnish a home, curtains and carpets from a listreused until no longer servicable, not the most attractive stuff but functional. And the soldier / sailor / airmen doesn't keep it as a bonus once he/she has done his/her time!

but still not christmas cards eh!

Soviet that pretty much sums up the style too

But it still grates that this is good enough for large proptions of the military( and their families wherever they have to be based, but it's not good enough for our MP's