MPs travel expenses revealed

Thousands of pounds are claimed by West Midlands MPs every year in expenses for travel by car, train and even bicycle.

Big variations in how West Midlands MPs travel around their constituencies and to and from Westminster have been shown up by detailed information released today about their travel expenses.

The figures, revealed after a two-year freedom of information battle with the House of Commons authorities, spell out how much MPs claimed in the 12 months to March 2006 for travel by car, plane, taxi and train.

The most popular form of travel for West Midlands MPs was their cars, although many rejected the M6, M1 and M40 by using the train to get to London.

Big spenders on travel included Dudley North Labour MP Ian Austin, pictured, who claimed £6,727 in rail fares and £3,194 for car use, and Stone Tory MP Bill Cash, who clocked up £5,548 by car and £4,477 by train.

At the other end of the scale was Rob Marris, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South West, who charged a total of £2,633 - £1,884 for trains, £711 for car use, plus £38 for his bike, which he uses to beat London traffic.

But the West Midlands MPs' claims paled into insignificance when compared with MPs from far-flung constituencies in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England, who frequently used air travel to and from London.

Falkirk Labour MP Eric Joyce had the biggest claim last year of £44,959, followed by Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat MP for the furthest constituency from Westminster - Orkney and Shetland, with £38,750.

The figures were obtained by Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker who fought a two-year freedom of information battle with the parliamentary authorities.

Mr Baker said he hoped that the publication of the figures would put pressure on MPs both to keep their expenses claims down and to travel by the most environmentally-friendly means.

"This is an important victory in the battle to make Parliament and the use of public money more accountable to the people. I am absolutely delighted to have won my case on the matter," said the Lib Dem MP.

By Political Editor John Hipwood