MPs today faced a fresh attack over their expenses after it was revealed half of the House of Commons had been ordered to repay more than £1.3 million in claims that should never have been made.

Shropshire and Mid Wales’ MPs were largely given a clean bill of health by today’s long-awaited report into the expenses scandal.

The review’s author Sir Thomas Legg, the ex-civil servant charged with probing second home claims for 2004 to 2008, lambasted the “deeply flawed” system at Westminster and recommended that MPs hand back £1.3 million.

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That figure was reduced by £185,000 after former judge Sir Paul Kennedy upheld a number of appeals by MPs against the repayment demands.

But some 350 MPs were told to pay back some of their taxpayer-funded expenses.

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson repaid £5,229.15 for repairs, insurance, security and mortgage.

He confirmed he had received a letter from Sir Thomas and had “made repayments as requested”.

MP Lembit Opik was one of 70 MPs to dispute the demands.

He received a sympathetic hearing from Sir Paul Kennedy, the high court judge tasked to hear MPs’ appeals, and won his challenge to repay £909.42 for mobile phone bills, but was asked to pay-up £155 he claimed for his court costs relating to two non-payments of council tax.

Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski was told there was no issue with his claims, as was Telford MP David Wright after providing undisclosed receipts and documents of his claims.

MP Mark Pritchard was mistakenly overpaid about £923 by the fees office and the matter was resolved.

He said: “The House authorities have admitted their error and I have already refunded the monies without hesitation. I have not been asked by Legg for any other monies.”

Ludlow MP Philip Dunne does not claim the second home allowance.

The damning verdict was delivered in a 30-page report by Sir Thomas who accused MPs of fostering a “culture of deference” under which officials found it difficult to challenge their claims and allowed abuse of the system.

By London reporter Sunita Patel