Network Rail boss on £500k salary claimed crisps on expenses paid for by the taxpayer – costing just 57p
Sir Peter Hendy defended by company who insist he works tirelessly for the company
A RAIL chief on £500,000 a year claimed everything from posh dinners to 57p bags of crisps on expenses paid for by the taxpayer, it has emerged.
Thrifty Sir Peter Hendy’s business receipts included claims for sandwiches and snacks he bought at petrol stations and Costa Coffee.
The Network Rail boss also dined out at the exclusive Groucho Club in Soho on the taxpayer, claiming for £26 steaks and £22 veal chops, a Daily Mail FOI revealed.
One claim included a £1 pork pie, three £2.99 sandwiches, a £1.25 can of CocaCola, two cans of lemonade and two bags of 57p crisps.
In total, Sir Peter, 64, spent £618.33 on “subsistence” claims between April 1 and June 25 last year, and £356.69 in the following three months.
He even claimed for dinner in his home city of Bath - where he lives in a £1.5million Georgian villa - including a £135.50 meal at the four-star Abbey Hotel.
In total he further recouped £630.29 for 27 taxi trips despite chairman Mark Carne claiming nothing on cabs.
The only other board member of Network Rail to claim for food and drink on expenses was former finance chief Jeremy Westlake, who put in bills for just £66.15.
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It comes as the organisation was blamed for a “high proportion” of train delays last year by rail watchdog the Office of Rail and Road.
Commons Public Accounts Committee chairman Meg Hillier urged executives to “consider their paymasters”, adding: “Network Rail is a public outfit and this is taxpayers’ money.”
Network Rail said Sir Peter “worked tirelessly” for Network Rail and is entitled to claim “reasonable costs” when out of the office and entertaining.