I make no apology for travel - it is part of my job

ONE of Britain's globetrotting backbench MPs has been on almost £250,000 worth of free trips in a year.

Mike Gapes, chairman of the foreign affairs committee, has been on 11 out of 12 of his committee's "fact-finding missions" in 12 months.

He has flown business class, stayed in the best hotels and eaten at top restaurants on excursions which included a tour of America to look at security at a cost of £63,752 - the most expensive trip taken by parliamentary select committee members.

Trips taken by Mr Gapes, who is the Labour MP for Ilford South, include a £52,341 visit for 11 MPs and two staff to Russia, Azerbaijan and Austria; a £51,615 trip for 11 MPs plus four staff to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan; and a £40,461 tour by 13 MPs and four staff of the Middle East.

The 56-year-old said: "Given that ... it is my job to visit other countries, it is not surprising that I am the most well-travelled MP. I make no apology for this because it is my job."