Lansley’s biscuit bill

If Andrew Lansley thought he could rest easy after passage of the Health Bill, then he’s in for a rude awakening. Yesterday, the shadow Cabinet Minister Jon Trickett busted Lansley’s department for spending £109,017 since January this year to supply its employees and visitors with free refreshments — aka, tea and biscuits.

Naturally, Labour aren’t telling the whole story here. The amount being spent has declined under the coalition, from £194,000 for the equivalent period in 2010, to £137,000 in 2011, to that £109,017 figure now.

But, still, it’s another classic example of waste during a time of austerity. Perhaps it’s no surprise that obesity is thought to cost the NHS around £4 billion a year, what with McVitie’s-munching civil servants like these.