The mouses of Parliament

Published on Saturday 5 April 2008 11:07

AS the epicentre of skullduggery at Holyrood, the MSPs' restaurant and bar is certainly no stranger to the odd pest or two.

But now the once-exclusive bar has fallen foul of council hygiene inspectors after they found evidence of mice.

Scottish Parliament officials have been ordered to rectify the situation by employing pest control teams.

Details of the mice problem, which was discovered in December, were revealed after food hygiene inspections were released to the Evening News under freedom of information laws.

Other issues highlighted included faulty freezer units and problems with the hot water supply in the garden level kitchen.

Reports released by the council show the parliament was one of just six out of 34 of the city's top tourist and leisure attractions assessed by food safety inspectors over the last two years which broke environmental laws.

Among the other places where inspectors found evidence of mice were Easter Road Stadium and the Dean Gallery. The owners of the Festival Theatre, meanwhile, were chastised for leaving a bar uncleaned for two months between performances.

All the buildings that failed the hygiene inspections have subsequently rectified the issues.

But the discovery of mice in the 431 million parliament today moved one Lothians MSP to quote Scotland's best-loved bard.

Lothians Labour MSP George Foulkes said: "I think it's a sign to make sure Alex Salmond keeps his promises. As Burns said: 'In proving foresight may be vain. The best laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For promis'd joy!'"

The members' bar and restaurant, located on the first floor of the main Holyrood building, became a source of controversy almost as soon as MSPs moved in. It lost more than 13,500 in the first two months of operation and the annual subsidy was increased from 60,000 to 80,000.

A Scottish Parliament spokeswoman said: "December was the first and only time evidence of mice was reported in the members' bar.

"Following the inspection, the parliament ensured the area was cleaned and undertook weekly checks. Within two weeks, the problem was resolved and no further evidence of mice in the area has been reported."

Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city's environment spokesman, said: "Officers carry out more than 3000 visits to a variety of food premises each year.

"The vast majority of breaches are minor and are dealt with immediately. In the small minority of cases – less than one per cent – where issues are not resolved, we will not hesitate to take formal legal action."

DISHING THE DIRT ON CITY ATTRACTIONS

THE Scottish Parliament wasn't the only attraction to fall foul of the inspectors.

They highlighted 27 items which needed attention in the Edinburgh Playhouse bars in 2006, including a lack of thorough pest control procedures, no handwashing facilities for staff in two bars, and worn and dirty flooring.

Last year, an inspection at the Gallery of Modern Art's cafe discovered mouse droppings in the kitchen, dirty glasses and broken kitchen equipment. In addition, 11 items of concern were found at the King's Theatre bars and 14 at the Festival Theatre.

A spokeswoman for the Festival and King's theatres said: "All recommendations following statutory inspections are followed as a matter of course. All licensing regulations are strictly enforced."

No-one from the Playhouse or the Gallery of Modern Art was available for comment.