YORK MP Hugh Bayley revealed today he claimed £135,744 in expenses during the last financial year.

In addition to his £57,485 salary, he spent £16,867 on travelling to and from the Commons, and to other European parliaments, during 2003/04 - and another £20,333 on hotel bills and other costs of staying away from home while Parliament is sitting.

His bill for House of Commons headed paper, envelopes and stamps came to £7,568, while he spent another £68,023 on salaries for his three members of staff and a further £18,799 for rent, rates, heating, lighting, telephone, photocopying and stationery at his York office.

Mr Bayley claimed £1,137 to meet half the cost of additional security at his office in Holgate Road, York.

John Grogan, Labour MP for Selby, claimed a total of £142,723 on top of his £57,000 salary in 2003-04.

He claimed £71,773 to hire five staff in London and his constituency, plus £18,799 for office costs.

Mr Grogan received £20,333 to cover living costs in London, including renting a flat, and £25,917 for travel.

He also claimed £1,085 for staff travel between Selby and Westminster.

Updated: 10:03 Thursday, October 21, 2004