Row over Centro's £3k drinks reception

Transport authority Centro is to spend £3,000 of taxpayers' money on a food and drink reception for Midland MPs. A Conservative invited has already criticised the idea.

The organisation, which is publicly funded and was responsible for the delivery of Wolverhampton's £22.5 million bus station, will pick up the bill for the event at the House of Commons' Terrace Pavilion in January.

It will be hosted by Lord Snape of Wednesbury and include a speech from the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Norman Baker MP.

Discussions at the meeting will include the station in Wolverhampton, as well as a new £7m facility in Stourbridge and transport measures in Walsall and Birmingham.

But Centro was today criticised by South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson, who said booking the pavilion will have cost about £1,000 without taking food and drink into account.

"I have been invited and will be turning it down because I don't see this as the correct use of public funds," said Mr Williamson.

"Centro is based in Birmingham. I would have thought it would have made far more sense to have held a meeting for elected members from the Midlands in the Midlands. I will be happy to meet with Centro to raise issues that are affecting my constituents, but I will be doing that here in the Midlands."

The two-hour event will take place on January 10. It has been organised by Centro chairman Angus Adams and chief executive, Geoff Inskip.

On the discussion menu will be the £600m million New Street Gateway project and a £3.2m bridge to carry the Metro into Birmingham. They will also talk about the £11m Five Ways to Walsall project and work to extend the Metro to New Street at a cost of £14m.

Centro spokesman Steve Swingler said today: "At a cost of just £3,000, Centro's Parliamentary Reception is excellent value for money."