Coalition 'drinking less wine'
By Philippa Silverman - 3rd February 2011
The coalition government are drinking 30 per cent less wine than the previous Labour administration, the Commons has heard.
Commons leader Sir George Young said since coming to power last May, Conservative and Liberal Democrat ministers had drunk a third less of the official government wine cellar than their predecessors.
During questions on future business, Labour MP Tom Watson told the Commons there is a bottle of Chateau Latour 1962 in the cellar valued at £3,600.
The West Bromwich East MP asked: "Can the leader of the House tell me which minister deserves to drink it?"
Sir George told MPs: "I have made some inquiries and the House will be pleased to hear that consumption of wine has fallen 30 per cent since the coalition government took power."
The former minister had previously called on the government for more than 13 months for details of the cellar.
Following a Freedom of Information request, it was revealed that the cellar included a Chateau Petrus 1978 worth more than £2,500 and a bottle of Chateau Latour 1955, worth about £1,000.
Watson had suggested the most valuable wines be sold off as part of the government's efforts to reduce the deficit.
He said a sale would demonstrate that ministers and the public were "all in this together".
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