Lib Dems call for a freeze of MEP allowance and travel expenditure

Commenting ahead of a vote on the 2013 EU budget guidelines in the European Parliament in Strasbourg tomorrow, Mr Lyon said:

"At this time of national austerity and budget consolidation, the EU budget needs to be shaken up and restructured to get rid of inefficiencies and waste.

"MEPs need to lead the way in identifying and making important savings. All MEP allowances should be frozen until 2014 and we must cap the travel budget at its present level. We must make our money travel further!

"It is also time we had an independent and thorough evaluation of the European Parliament's budget to make sure that it delivers value for money. For the time being, I want to see a freeze in administrative spending of all EU institutions."

The Lib Dem MEP went on to argue that a major saving within the European Parliament's budget would be the adoption of a single seat for the House in Brussels. He added:

"I urge all MEPs to vote for a cross-party amendment for a single seat of the European Parliament. We need to send a strong signal to Member States that it is time to end the travelling circus between Brussels and Strasbourg. It is down to national capitals that we are still spending around £180m a year on pointless trips between those two cities. This wasteful practice must end now."