Shropshire and Mid Wales MPs' expenses claims rise £49,000 over year

The costs, which include the running of constituency offices, general administration and travel expenses, are up from £859,556.64 in 2012/13.

A rise in inflation has been blamed for record expenses claims by MPs during the past year.

The national total of claims by MPs for the 2013/14 financial year was £103 million, a rise of £5 million from the previous year and £1 million more than at the highest of the expenses scandal in 2008/9.

But the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority said the comparison was misleading, as taking inflation into account, the £102 million claimed in 2009 would equate to £113 million – £10 million more than current costs.

Regulation put in place since 2009 had in fact reduced overall costs by £58 million, the body said.

In Shropshire and Mid Wales, Shrewsbury & Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski received the highest amount among the region's representatives in Parliament, at £174,473.29.

He was followed by Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies who claimed £173,081.08, Mark Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin, at £157,725.09, North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson at £140,541.79 and Telford MP David Wright at £132,032.88.

The MP who cost taxpayers the least was Ludlow MP Philip Dunne who received £131,123.64.

But Mr Kawczynski said the term "expenses" was misleading, as the bulk of what was claimed from IPSA went towards office running costs and paying staff.

He said: "I do not see how people's salaries, people's offices and train journeys are classed as expenses, when they wouldn't be in any other walk of life."

He said the majority of the IPSA money was never seen by MPs as it was paid automatically, direct to providers - and furthermore MPs incurred thousands of pounds of personal costs in carrying out their jobs that could not be claimed.

Mr Paterson agreed, saying that an MPs office was "like running a small business."

He said: "Obviously there is a cost in running an operation where you work in two places. You need a good team which works together."

Mr Dunne said his cost were probably lower for two reasons.

"First I have not claimed any accommodation expenses to stay in London when the House of Commons is sitting since I was first elected in 2005," he said.

"Second, as a minister most of my travel to and from the constituency is on ministerial duty so I do not seek reimbursement from IPSA."

The figures, which have been made public by the IPSA, show that it cost MPs in the region £908,977.77 to run their offices in the financial year 2013/14.

Jim Shannon, MP for Strangford in Northern Ireland, had the highest claim at £229,262, and Ian Paisley Jnr, for North Antrim, asked for £214,455. Prime Minister David Cameron claimed £129,512, while Labour leader Ed Miliband received £127,354 and his Lib Dem counterpart Nick Clegg's bill was £159,669.

Nationally the £103 million total consists of £81 million on staff, £11 million on accommodation, travel and subsistence, and £11million on office costs.

The cost of renting a constituency office accounted for 11 per cent of total outlay, while accommodation and travel accounted for seven per cent and four per cent respectively.

In addition, 30 MPs gave staff what is known as a "reward and recognition payment." The total cost of these bonuses amounted to just under £20,000.

IPSA chairman Sir Ian Kennedy said the figures allowed "constituents to see exactly what their MP spent in carrying out their Parliamentary duties".

What our MPs claimed:

David Wright - Labour, Telford

• Office running costs included: Office costs – £14,296.37, Staffing – £94,574.84

• Other parliamentary costs included: Travel – £7,003.75, Accommodation – £15,088.58, Miscellaneous Expenses (Such as removal and redundancy costs) – £1,069.34

• Total – £132,032.88

Daniel Kawczynski - Conservative, Shrewsbury and Atcham

• Office running costs included: Office costs – £12,632.42, Staffing – £127,188.17

• Other parliamentary costs included: Travel – £12,127.70, Accommodation – £22,525, Miscellaneous Expenses – £0

• Total – £174,473.29

Owen Paterson - Conservative, North Shropshire

• Office running costs included: Office costs – £13,164.96, Staffing – £122,632.01

• Other parliamentary costs included: Travel – £2,336.70, Accommodation – £2,408.12, Miscellaneous Expenses – £0

• Total – £140,541.79

Mark Pritchard - Conservative, The Wrekin

• Office running costs included: Office costs – £19,982.83, Staffing – £107,344.58

• Other parliamentary costs included: Travel – £7,592.04, Accommodation – £22,805.64, Miscellaneous Expenses – £0

• Total – £157,725.09

Philip Dunne - Conservative, Ludlow

• Office running costs included: Office costs – £14,330.99, Staffing – £114,689.37

• Other parliamentary costs included: Travel – £2,103.28, Accommodation – £0, Miscellaneous Expenses – £0

• Total – £131,123.64

Glyn Davies - Conservative, Montgomeryshire

• Office running costs included: Office costs – £17,323.56, Staffing – £124,152.96

• Other parliamentary costs: Travel – £11,504.56, Accommodation – £20,100, Miscellaneous Expenses – £0

• Total – £173,081.08