Cash-strapped Ministry of Defence splurged £31,000 of taxpayers’ cash on overpriced posh biscuits
THE Ministry of Defence splurged £31,000 of taxpayers’ cash on overpriced posh biscuits.
The cash-strapped department has been buying the cookies since 2016 under a PFI catering contract.
It paid up to 70 per cent more than the Amazon Prime price for the same Meredith and Drew choc chip cookies, shortbread swirls and oat crunches.
The same defence procurement experts behind multi-billion-pound overspends on tanks, ships and planes, paid 18p to 25p for the biccies that cost 14p each online.
In total they overpaid by £10,000 since 2016.
The biscuits in packets of two were served at the MoD’s London HQ.
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Tory ex-armed forces minister Mark Francois said: “Crumbs! We can’t even get a good deal on a packet of biscuits.”
Labour’s shadow defence minister Luke Pollard said: “It really does take the biscuit.
“Our Armed Forces are getting crumbs off the table while ministers waste money on biscuits.
"If they can’t buy good value biscuits what chance have we got of them getting value for money on military hardware?"
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The MoD insisted it was, “committed to delivering value for money” and as part of the contract, “limited refreshments are supplied by the contractor in a small number of meetings.”
The revelation comes as Defence Secretary Ben Wallace seeks a £10.6billion boost over the next two years for Britain’s security and to honour commitments.
But a review into security threats, that had been due out before the Budget, is at risk of being further delayed by rows.
Insiders say it is on its second draft around Whitehall and may not be seen until late March.