MPs agree to pay for their own lunches in parliament after Songkran

Members of the House of Representatives have agreed to pay for their own lunches in parliament after the Songkran holidays, which will save about 200,000 baht in taxpayers’ money per day.

This was unanimously agreed at a House meeting on Monday.

Dr. Warong Dechgitvigrom, leader and sole MP of the Thai Pakdee party, who initiated the idea that MPs should pay for their own lunches, was among the attendees. He also proposed that the number of assistants for each MP should be cut from eight to three and that the pension fund for former MPs should be cut, claiming that some MPs only serve one term in parliament.

House Speaker Sophon Zaram, who chaired the meeting, said yesterday that the Office of the Secretariat of the House of Representatives will arrange for lunches to be prepared for MPs, but the MPs will have to pay for them.

He noted, however, that since not all 500 MPs would be in parliament or would eat lunch there, the amount of food to be prepared should be limited to enough for 300 MPs to reflect reality.

Parliament has allocated 1,000 baht per head per day, for the preparation of lunches for MPs and senators.

Regarding the two other proposals by Dr. Warong, Sophon said the meeting agreed that they should be referred to House committees on parliamentary affairs.