FREE sandwiches are being scrapped at council meetings - but biscuits and fruit will stay on the menu. Politicians who want to eat sandwiches or other food when they attend Tower Hamlets council committee, full council, panel and board meetings will have

FREE sandwiches are being scrapped at council meetings - but biscuits and fruit will stay on the menu.

Politicians who want to eat sandwiches or other food when they attend Tower Hamlets council committee, full council, panel and board meetings will have to use an "honesty fridge" at the town hall.

They have been told: "There is a price list on the fridge door and Members

will have to pay for the food that is provided in the fridge. You are

asked to have exact change and place your money in the box inside the

fridge, when you take an item. The fridge has initially been stocked with a selection of sandwiches and fruit salad."

But councillors will still get tea, coffee, biscuits and fresh fruit at meeting, along with water.

Conservative councillor Tim Archer said: "This is a really important step in the right direction. Conservative Councillors have consistently called for food for councillors to be scrapped. Many members of the public may not realise that most council committee meetings provide sandwiches and other snacks for the councillors at a cost of �16,000 to the taxpayer per year. For some meetings like meetings of the full council a three course curry is provided. This is a sheer waste of public money and often not all the food is eaten representing a sheer waste of good food too. In the private sector its unheard of to be provided food for all meetings.