Sometimes you come across a Parliamentary question that really goes to the heart of an issue on which you feel passionately, and this one really leapt out from the Order Paper today.
Mrs Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the estimated value is of central government’s stock of alcoholic beverages; and how many bottles of (a) wine, (b) beer, (c) spirits and (d) other alcoholic beverages are currently held by the Government for entertainment and other purposes. (59039)
The answer should of course be ‘not enough’, but I await Jack Straw’s reply with interest.
Anyone who can explain why the alcohol inventory is maintained by the Foreign and Commonwealth office is invited to comment below, and the best/most plausible/most amusing answer will receive a pint (or ‘other alcoholic beverage’) at the largesse of Recess Monkey.*
*Offer subject to status (on the grounds of age, political affiliation and beauty) and can only be redeemed at the Red Lion pub at a time of Recess Monkey’s choosing. The judges’ decision is final, and likely to be widely derided.
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For when the Russians visit. Obvious. I demand my pint.
Sedge said this on March 15th, 2006 at 9:19 am
hmm, maybe the FCO’s responsibility for keeping the government’s alcohol dates from Robin Cook’s time as foreign secretary?
If so… has anyone done an audit recently?
You can't libel the dead said this on March 15th, 2006 at 11:24 am
Becuase it’s a vicious bidding war bewtween which country supplies the government with cheap plonk to serve it’s guests.
They ain’t going to to serve up British Dandelion and Burdock!
Emmazon said this on March 15th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
One of the FCO’s non-departmental public bodies is the Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine
anon said this on March 16th, 2006 at 9:35 am
I think it’s because the cellar is in Lancaster House, and that’s an FCO property, and because they have to pour gallons of neck oil down the throats of evil but charming foreigners. The quango comes with the cellar, not vice versa.
William Norton said this on March 17th, 2006 at 2:05 pm