MPs will today debate plans to cut spending on parliament by €1m next year and almost €2m by 2011. The second chamber costs some €115m a year to run.

The plans include a ban on business-class plane tickets, an end to drinks being served during meetings and axing the internal postal delivery service.
The Christian Democrat, Labour and Liberal VVD parties all say they will vote against the plans because they are a ‘botched up’ job.
Liberal MP Charlie Aptroot wants consultants to assess what savings could be made by contracting out IT services, the restaurant and facility management.