News Release

29th July 2002

COMMONS CATERING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS CURRIES

The House of Commons Catering Committee has just made a recommendation "that curries (for which there is considerable demand) should be made a speciality" in one of the Commons restaurants. [Paragraph 58 of the Report of the Catering Committee published this month].

But back in 1992 on 8th July when Michael Fabricant was in his first year as an MP, he tabled a House of Commons motion:-

"That this House urges the Refreshment Department to provide a restaurant specialising in Indian cuisine and that it be opened in the precincts of the Palace of Westminster for the benefit of honourable Members and their guests; and, having cognisance of their recent inclusion in the National Curry Guide as one of the top 100 Indian restaurants in the United Kingdom, that the Eastern Eye of Lichfield be invited to operate the restaurant and, in doing so, further inter-cultural relations in Great Britain."

The motion was tabled immediately following Abdul Salaam's inclusion in the Curry Guide. But since then, Mr Abdul Salaam owner of the Eastern Eye in Lichfield has won countless other awards and is regarded as being the top Indian restaurateur in Britain. He also gives lectures on Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine. So Michael Fabricant has now written to the Chairman of the Catering Committee stating: "I now invite the catering department to contact Mr Abdul Salaam of the Eastern Eye Restaurant, 19B Bird Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6PW. I am sure that he will be able to produce dishes of excellent quality!"

Michael says: "From time to time, the Commons does have Indian food on its menu, but it is pretty mediocre to be honest. That's why I tabled the original motion. Now, I hope that the Refreshment Department will use the services of a national award winning chef, Abdul Salaam of Lichfield, rather than merely continuing with its somewhat second-rate ethnic cooking." Commenting on the date of publication of the Report by the Catering Committee, Michael adds: "Better late than never! It comes almost exactly 10 years after I originally recommended this innovation. It looks like my ideas are finally coming into fashion down in Westminster."