North Somerset MP explains expenses

Details of the £9,000 taxpayer- funded deal MP Liam Fox did with his local Conservative association have been published.

The Tory Defence spokesman said he had revealed the terms and conditions on the Woodspring Conservatives to quash any suggestion of "impropriety" after it emerged he was claiming money on his Parliamentary expenses to pay his constituency party for administration services and office space.

The bill includes a charge of £4,000 a year for "secretarial and personal assistant services", charged at £18 an hour based on an average minimum five hours a week for minimum 45 weeks a year.

Unlimited use of telephones, photocopying and computers, £2,000, and office accommodation, £3,000 make up the rest.

This is described as "private and exclusive" furnished office accommodation at Woodspring Conservative Association in Nailsea High Street.

The contract, made between Dr Fox and association president Carl Francis-Pester, also covers "any other related service reasonably required by the MP which WCA is willing to provide". It states that the services provided "will assist the MP in the performance of his constituency duties on behalf of his parliamentary constituents".

Dr Fox, who has represented the constituency covering the northern part of North Somerset since 1992, said: "Today I am publishing the agreement made between myself and Woodspring Conservative Association for the provision of constituency services in my Nailsea office to prevent any possibility of distortion or misrepresentation.

"There is absolutely no question of impropriety here. This agreement was drawn up in the light of the advice that is provided by Parliament to ensure transparency in all dealings with political parties.

"Arranging surgeries for my constituents is essential and the current arrangement will continue until we receive any advice to the contrary."