MP claims 3p for 100 metre car trip

FORMER DEFENCE secretary Liam Fox successfully claimed 3p of taxpayers' cash for a car journey of fewer than 100 metres, expenses documents show.

The Conservative MP made the claim after travelling 0.06 miles, or approximately 96.5 metres, within his North Somerset constituency from a concrete firm to a constituency surgery in Yatton in October 2012.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) notes the claim was paid last December.

Mr Fox also had another 15 claims of under £1 for car travel approved in 2012/13.

These included 24p for a 0.54-mile journey from a constituency surgery to a school competition in Clevedon and 44p for a 0.98-mile journey from a meet your MP event at Winford Manor to Winford School.

MPs can claim 45p per mile.

Ipsa paperwork shows Mr Fox claimed £3,866.31 in travel expenses in 2012/13, which includes rail fares.

Mr Fox, who worked as a GP before becoming an MP, told the Sunday People: "I don't do my expenses. My office does them. But they are all done according to the rules for travel distances."

The Tory was last year ordered to repay £3,000 of expenses for allowing his friend Adam Werritty to live rent-free at his taxpayer-funded second home for a year.

Mr Fox, who resigned in October 2011 over his relationship with Mr Werritty, was also criticised for allowing their Atlantic Bridge think tank to be run from his parliamentary offices.

By Press Association reporters