NORTH East Wales Labour MPs Martyn Jones and Ian Lucas have revealed their expenses to the Chronicle.

Clwyd South MP Martyn Jones released details of his expenses on Tuesday, showing he claimed almost £20,000 in four years for food.

He submitted the maximum monthly claim of £400 a month under his second home allowances – including when the Commons was not sitting, for which he did not need to submit receipts.

Mr Jones, who is retiring at the next election, spent nearly £20,000 between 2004/05 and 2007/08.

His receipts also show he claimed for new furniture when he moved home in March 2006.

He spent £348 on a washing machine, £390 on bathroom fittings, £199 on a chest of drawers, £72 on a toaster and £128 on a DVD.

Mr Jones moved between rented flats minutes from each other in a Pimlico complex where residents can use the indoor swimming pool, outside riverside tennis court and croquet lawn.

In November the following year he bought a second set of drawers costing £110, a £75 foam bed cover and a chocolate-coloured sofa bed costing £764.

His latest rent claims show the apartment, a short walk from Parliament, costs £1,228 a month plus car rental of £165.

A standard monthly claim included utility bills of £42, council tax of £83, phone costs of £40 and £17 on cleaning.

In April last year the fees office rejected part of his claim because he had used up most of his Additional Costs Allowance of £23,083.

His final submission for the financial year was reduced from £2,216 to £1,129.

Mr Jones said: “Following the publication of Ian Lucas MP’s expenses, I have made the decision to release my expenses so as to avoid even the appearance of any wrongdoing.

“Given the current feeling in the country on this issue it is right that I am as forthcoming as possible on this matter.”

His colleague, Wrexham MP Ian Lucas, claimed more than £22,000 in expenses when he moved his second home.

The politician claimed the cash when he moved about seven miles from a one bedroom flat in Rotherhithe, just south of the Thames, to one within walking distance of Westminster.

Investigations revealed Mr Lucas claimed £6,245 for estate agent, solicitor and management fees, when selling his Rotherhithe flat in February 2007.

The Labour whip then claimed £3,200 when staying at London hotels between April and July 2007, before he moved to his Westminster flat.

He then claimed £12,755 for stamp duty, legal fees, and valuations – including on one property he did not go on to buy – in relation to the purchase of the Westminster flat. The total for the move was at least £22,200.

Figures also revealed that in March 2005 he claimed £1,815 for new flooring for his flat in Rotherhithe.

He claimed a further £1,388 for a bed, mattress and sofa bed, and £90 for a hotel in Cardiff in June 2007.

Mr Lucas said: “I take my responsibilities as an MP extremely seriously. I have been scrupulous about both adhering to the rules and ensuring good stewardship of public funds, mindful that it is taxpayers’ money.

“It is right the rules are now changed, given some of the revelations of recent days.

“In my own case, however, I am confident that I have achieved the appropriate balance between seeking the support I need to perform my duties, and responsible use of the allowances available to me.

“Any claims I have made under the Additional Costs Allowance have been in relation to the need to either stay in London or maintain a property in London in order to perform my role as an MP.

“This includes expenses in relation to the purchase and upkeep of a property in London.”

He added: “It is true I have claimed £1,388 for furniture for my one bedroom flat in London. This was over a five-year period. I regard a bed as an essential item.

“In relation to the hotel in Cardiff, I was attending the official opening of the National Assembly for Wales and considered this was part of my Parliamentary duties.”