A TORY MP revealed today that taxpayers are paying less than £10 a day to feed him whilst he is in London when Parliament is sitting. Malcolm Moss, the MP for NE Cambs, said he had jumped the gun to reveal his expenses for the past three years and is ant

A TORY MP revealed today that taxpayers are paying less than £10 a day to feed him whilst he is in London when Parliament is sitting.

Malcolm Moss, the MP for NE Cambs, said he had jumped the gun to reveal his expenses for the past three years and is "anticipating what I hope will become a mandatory requirement in the future."

Full details of his additional costs allowance were revealed today by the MP who said he has never used the allowance to buy furniture, white goods, furnishings, TVs or kitchen hardware.

"In fact, along with many of my colleagues, I was not even aware of the so called 'John Lewis List' until it hit the press as a result of a Freedom of Information challenge," he said.

Mr Moss said his claims under the Additional Costs Allowance was to cover the cost of living away from home when attending Parliament.

"The amount for the last three years is largely made up of either mortgage interest or rent payments towards providing accommodation," he said.

"Under the rules, receipts are not required for expenditures under £250 per item. With that I ensure all my expenses are receipted apart from food.

"When it comes to food, my maximum annual expenditure was £1,355 which averages out at £9.68 per day for the 140 days a year that Parliament is sitting. One must keep in mind that on Mondays and Tuesdays Parliament sits until 10 pm."

He said this "effectively prevents me from going home and meals on these days which invariably have to be taken in restaurants which are at a higher cost than self-catering."

Mr Moss said other areas of MPs' expenses will be published in a more open way from the start of the new financial year. This involves both the costs for running an MP's office and travel expenses.

"Although, at present, receipts are only needed for items over £25.00, many Conservative MP's, including myself, will be keeping receipts for everything. These will be audited in some way or other."

The MP said that in the autumn, MPs' office and travel expenses, along with the Additional Costs Allowance, will be published by the House of Commons Fees Office covering the last three years.

* Mr Moss, whose majority at the last election was 8,901, is retiring at the next General Election.

Malcolm Moss MP - ADDITIONAL COSTS ALLOWANCE

Financial Year - 2005/06

£

Mortgage Interest 14,737.26 *

Rent 0.00

Service Charges 2,393.43 *

Council Tax 798.15 *

Food/Household consumables 1,355.33

Parking Permits 1,011.25 *

Ground Rent 87.50 *

Utilities (electricity/water) 48.56 *

Telephone 0.00

Cleaning 0.00

TOTAL 20,431.48

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Items Receipted

Malcolm Moss MP - ADDITIONAL COSTS ALLOWANCE

Financial Year - 2006/07

£

Mortgage Interest 12,762.54 *

Rent 0.00

Service Charges 4,668.43 *

Council Tax 1,847.00 *

Food/Household consumables 1,001.93

Parking Permits 658.00 *

Ground Rent 175.00 *

Utilities (electricity/water) 0.00

Telephone 0.00

Cleaning 0.00

TOTAL 21,112.90

--------------

* Items Receipted

Malcolm Moss MP - ADDITIONAL COSTS ALLOWANCE

Financial Year - 2007/08

£

Mortgage Interest (7 months) 8,383.20 *

Rent (4 months) 7,654.98 *

Service Charges 3,834.38 *

Council Tax 1,209.00 *

Food/Household consumables 931.22

Parking Permits 410.00 *

Ground Rent 87.50 *

Utilities (electricity/water) 264.47 *

Telephone 135.00 *

Cleaning 150.00

TOTAL 23,059.25

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* Items Receipted