Best red wine government committee axed

The axing of an unpaid government committee that advises on the best wine to serve at diplomatic functions has been described as "highly symbolic" by one source.

Polly Curtis explained in the Guardian that cutting the Foreign Office's Government Hospitality Advisory Committee on the Purchase of Wines will save the taxpayer hardly any money.

Head of government hospitality in the protocol directorate of the department Robert Alexander told the newspaper that the organisation meets just four times a year for half a day and is not paid for offering tips on the best red wine to serve.

He was quoted as saying: "They offer their advice to government hospitality at no cost, although they are entitled to claim travel expenses to attend meetings of the committee."

If the state needs any recommendations on which red wine would go down well at important functions, perhaps it could try the Cellier de Monterail Cotes du Rhone 2007, which should help with spending cuts with its bargain price.