Ann Keen's answer to expenses question: Get stuffed

Five London MPs are refusing to say if they are being asked to repay part of their Commons expenses.

They are Ann and Alan Keen, the couple dubbed Mr and Mrs Expenses, senior Tories Jacqui Lait and Richard Ottaway and Labour's Harry Cohen.

Five other MPs did not respond to enquiries from the Standard over a two-day period, while two were said to be on trips abroad.

Most of the 49 outer London MPs questioned said they had been assured by auditor Sir Thomas Legg they have nothing to repay.

However, they are also among some of the highest claimants of expenses.

Bob Neill Has been asked to repay £126.00 following a council tax bill error. "I've also been asked for more details relating to the purchase of my Chislehurst home, which I'm happy to provide," he said.

Barry Gardiner has also admitted he will repay expenses (£174).

Mrs Keen told the Standard to "get stuffed" when approached politely at the Commons.

Her husband Alan also declined to answer questions.

The couple claimed between them almost £40,000 for a central London flat even though their "main residence" was just 10 miles from the Commons.

Ms Lait said her letter from Sir Thomas was "a private and confidential matter".

She over-claimed on her second home mortgage for three years and had to pay back more than £7,000 after it was spotted by the fees office.

Labour MP Mr Cohen also refused to speak. "It's a private matter," said his office. The Left-winger refurbished a dilapidated home with taxpayers' money, buying such items as a £3,031 granite work surface.

Mr Ottaway said he had "no comment to make at all". He claimed £2,650 for half the cost of a £5,300 bed needed for a bad back.

From next year, London MPs will no longer be allowed to claim a second home allowance.

Barry Gardiner
Brent North
Former Environment minister, asked to repay £174 for deductions that should have been made in 2005. He said: "Whilst I am annoyed that the fees office calculation was incorrect on this matter, I consider that the outcome of the Legg investigation shows clearly that I acted at all times within both the letter and the spirit of the regulations."
Second home claims last year: £15,079

Joan Ryan
Enfield North
The former minister has been asked to provide information on her mortgage interest payments. Claimed £4,500 for work on her Enfield home, which she had designated as her second home. Then wrote to the Commons fees office explaining that she wanted to designate her flat in south London as her second home.
Second home claims last year: £21,658

Harry Cohen
Leyton & Wanstead
The veteran Labour MP's office said that his letter from Sir Thomas Legg was "a private matter". Mr Cohen, who is standing down at the election, charged taxpayers £12,000 in stamp duty and fees on a new property. He has claimed that expenses are "part of my salary".
Second home claims last year: £23,083 (maximum allowable)

Jon Cruddas
Dagenham
The Labour Left-winger refused to comment. Told by Sir Thomas to pay back £173.83 for an electricity bill error and £340 for a service charge miscalculation in 2004, plus a £319 service charge duplicate claim that same year, and "will send cheque". He changed designated second home in 2004/05.
Second home claims last year: £23,071

Rudi Vis
Finchley & Golders Green
Labour MP has been asked to give more details about his mortgage. Mr Vis, who is quitting at the next election, receives second home allowance and claims £2,300 a month interest on a mortgage he took out in 2006 on his constituency home. Says his main home is in Suffolk.
Second home claims last year: £23,083

John Austin
Erith & Thamesmead
The Labour veteran has been asked for further information. Reported to have claimed more than £10,000 in expenses to redecorate his London flat before selling it for a profit. He said: "I am confident that the Legg inquiry will not identify any irregularities in regard to my claims but I will accept Sir Thomas's findings."
Second home claims last year: £23,083

Richard Ottaway
Croydon South
The Tory veteran, once a contender to be the party's candidate for London mayor, refused to comment. "You can ask me anything else about London or politics, but I'm afraid I can't speak about this." He claimed £2,650 for half the cost of a £5,300 bed for back problems. Also claimed for coal and chimney sweeping.
Second home claims last year: £21,481

Andy Love
Edmonton
The Labour MP, a member of the Treasury Select Committee, failed to respond to calls. He claimed £3,500 in legal and property costs, £2,895 on redecoration, £929 for a television and £549 for a sideboard at a second home in London.
Second home claims last year: £23,083

Derek Conway
Old Bexley & Sidcup
Nothing to repay. The former Government whip, whose expenses misuse case began the outcry that culminated in this year's exposés, is not standing at the next election. He was found guilty by a sleaze watchdog of overpaying his two sons, expelled from the Conservative Party and forced to pay back more than £8,000.
Second home claims last year: £23,033

Tony McNulty
Harrow East
The former Minister for London is not being asked to make a repayment. However, he is being investigated by standards commissioner John Lyon over allegations he claimed for a house in which his parents live. Second home claims last year: £12,600

Gareth Thomas
Harrow West
His office said the Aid Minister was in Sudan and could not be contacted. "He will be making a comment at a later stage," said a staff member.
Second home claims last year: £11,748

Jacqui Lait
Beckenham
The Conservative MP refused to answer questions. She said: "I have received a letter which is private and confidential, to which I will reply. It is a private and confidential matter."
Second home claims last year: £15,478

Andrew Rosindell
Romford
The Tory shadow Home Office minister has nothing to repay, after claiming up to £1,450 a month for mortgage interest, along with other bills for food and council tax.
Second home claims last year: £23,083

Ann Keen
Brentford & Isleworth
When approached by the Standard, the Health Minister said "get stuffed".
Ms Keen's "main residence" was taken over by squatters amid claims, denied by her, that it had been left empty for a long period. Second home claims last year: £18,333.

Andrew Dismore
Hendon
The Labour MP has nothing to repay. He said: "It is good to have confirmation that no action is required of me concerning my claims."
Second home claims last year: £3,815

Mike Gapes
Ilford South
Failed to respond to Standard queries about his Legg letter. The Labour chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee claimed £1,600 a month to rent a second home in London.
Second home claims last year: £22,291

Alan Keen
Feltham & Heston
Labour MP whose controversial expenses claims with wife Ann led to them being dubbed Mr and Mrs Expenses, declined to disclose whether Sir Thomas Legg had requested a repayment.
Second home claims last year: £19,855

Angela Watkinson
Upminster
Tory backbencher has nothing to repay. She was reported to have claimed £3,100 to redecorate a flat in 2005/06, then claimed £6,350 for a new bathroom, as well as £804 for a TV, microwave and fridge. Second home claims last year: £21,234

Stephen Pound
Ealing North
Nothing to repay. The Labour MP claimed small sums such as £221 in 2006, £227 in 2005 and £1,129 in 2004.
Second home claims last year: £0

Bob Neill
Bromley & Chislehurst
Tory MP has been asked to repay around £120. A member of his staff offered to seek full details but did not make contact again.
Second home claims last year: £19,108

Malcolm Wicks
Croydon North
The Labour MP has nothing to repay. His only claim for a second home was a tiny £138 in 2005/6.
Second home claims last year: £0

Lyn Brown
West Ham
The Labour MP did not respond to requests for information.
Second home claims last year: £15,889

James Brokenshire
Hornchurch
The Conservative MP has nothing to repay — not surprising since he had one of the smallest claims.
Second home claims last year: £385

John Horam
Orpington
His office said the Conservative MP was away in Europe on a Foreign Affairs Select Committee trip and was not available.
Second home claims last year: £11,452

Dawn Butler
Brent South
The Labour whip refused to comment. Over-claimed £2,600 in rent on her constituency home.
Second home claims last year: £23,083

Iain Duncan Smith
Chingford and Woodford Green
Former Tory leader has nothing to repay. He claimed nothing last year and just £566 in 2006.
Second home claims last year: £0

Theresa Villiers
Chipping Barnet
Shadow transport secretary has been told by Sir Thomas that she has nothing to pay.
Second home claims last year: £18,181

The following Greater London MPs were entitled to claim a second home allowance but chose not to do so. Instead they took the smaller inner London allowance, last year worth £2,812.

Vincent Cable - Twickenham, Lib-Dem
John McDonnell -Hayes and Harlington, Labour
Lynne Featherstone - Hornsey and Wood Green, Lib-Dem
Andrew Pelling - Croydon Central, Conservative
Andrew Slaughter - Ealing, Acton & Shepherd's Bush, Labour
David Burrowes- Enfield Southgate, Conservative
David Evennett - Bexleyheath & Crayford, Conservative
Ed Davey- Kingston & Surbiton, Lib-Dem
John Randall - Uxbridge, Conservative
Lee Scott - Ilford North, Conservative
Neil Gerrard - Walthamstow, Labour
Nick Hurd - Ruislip Northwood, Conservative
Paul Burstow - Sutton & Cheam, Lib-Dem
David Lammy - Tottenham, Labour
Margaret Hodge - Barking, Labour
Stephen Timms - East Ham, Labour
Sarah Teather - Brent South, Lib-Dem
Siobhain McDonagh - Mitcham & Morden, Labour
Stephen Hammond - Wimbledon, Conservative
Susan Kramer - Richmond Park, Lib-Dem
Tom Brake - Carshalton & Wallington, Lib-Dem
Virenda Sharma - Ealing Southall, Labour