MPs’ access to Sky Sports in their offices is provided free by Sky, it was revealed in the Commons.
Labour’s Hull North MP Diana Johnson criticised the ability of MPs to receive sports channels on almost every screen dotted around the Palace of Westminster when constituents have to pay £50 per month.
In public areas, the screens are usually set to annunciator channels, revealing what is happening in either the Commons or the Lords at any moment.
But the televisions can be tuned to a variety of TV and radio channels , including news channels and Sky Sports.
Ms Johnson has been campaigning for MPs to be able to receive the free-to-air regional broadcasts available through satellite TV so MPs can access local news programmes while in Westminster.
Responding to questions on the issue in the Commons on behalf of the House of Commons Commission, Labour MP Frank Doran said: “The Sky Sports is provided free by Sky, so we don’t actually pay for it.”
On wider upgrades to the TV system, Mr Doran told the Hull North MP: “You have been dogged in your pursuit of efforts to get local BBC shown here. I’m delighted to say work to expand and modernise the annunciator service is currently under way to switch to a digital service following the national digital switchover to ensure compatibility for television services such as subtitles.
“The upgrade will also provide the opportunity to develop the service and it is proposed the channels available will be expanded to include all regional BBC1 channels, whose broadcasts include regional news programmes, and some key international channels.”
Ms Johnson said: “I’m grateful for that but, as at the moment our constituents have to pay £50 a month to get Sky Sports beamed into their own home or to go down the pub, I’m not sure why we are having it beamed into all our offices on the parliamentary estate, and I’m really pleased we are now finally dealing with the fact for most MPs who represent constituencies outside London and the South East we need to have access to our regional TV news programmes.
“Can you tell me when this is going to happen?”
Mr Doran said: “We hope the service will be provided next year.”