MPs' expenses details released

Details of MPs expenses have shown that former prime minister Tony Blair claimed £116 to pay for a TV licence, while Gordon Brown claimed £2,000 for cleaning.

The figures were released by the House of Commons Commission to the BBC after a three-year freedom of information battle.

The commission decided not to pursue an appeal against a decision by information commissioner Richard Thomas that the expenses should be made public, although it is seeking to overturn a separate ruling over expenses in the High Court.

The details, which relate to 2003/04, show that John Prescott spent £4,000 in a year on food, while Brown and ex-Tory leader Michael Howard had council bills for their second homes paid from public funds.

None of the claims, which have not been published before, are in breach of rules.

Also on the list of MPs covered in Friday's release were former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, who claimed £12,000 in mortgage interest costs for his second home in London.

A separate release to freedom of information campaigner Heather Brooke gave details of what was claimed by nine prominent MPs under the additional costs allowance during the year 2005/06.

Ms Brooke said: "I welcome the disclosure although the way it's been handled has been a complete farce and a waste of taxpayers' money.

"The fact that they are still fighting through the High Court to keep secret the detailed claims and receipts shows how much importance they place in that."

The Commons authorities are fighting publication of receipt-by-receipt expenses claims and addresses of MPs' second homes, arguing it would pose a security risk and breach members' privacy.

Brooke said addresses should be disclosed as some of the second homes paid for from the allowances were not lived in by the MPs but bought as investments.

Blair claimed a total of £8,398.68 in 2005/06, including £3,958 for mortgage payments on his constituency home in County Durham, £1,558 on utilities, £672 for council tax, £1,331 for cleaning and £642 for a dishwasher and TV licence.

Brown, then chancellor, made no claim for mortgage interest payments, but received £137 to cover ground rent. His total of £18,680.52 in 2005/06 included £4,981 for cleaning, as well as £4,918 for repairs, insurance and security, £2,385 for food, £2,132 for service and maintenance and £1,941 for "TV subscriptions/licence and internal upkeep".

David Cameron's additional costs allowance total for 2005/06, the year when he became Conservative leader, came to £21,359.36, the vast bulk of it - some £21,293 - for mortgage payments. He also claimed £65.50 for "telephone and communications".