MPs 'claim for flats, fish tanks and iPods'

A London MP accused many of his parliamentary colleagues of "playing the system" of Commons expenses as it emerged they can claim for fishtanks and iPods.

Backbencher Mark Field warned that MPs' allowances for a second home in the capital was too often being abused, which was "tantamount to a serious diversion of public funds."

He raised his concerns as Andrew Walker, head of the Commons finance department, told a Freedom of Information tribunal that MPs could claim for fish tanks and iPods, and did not have to put in receipts for items below £250 or for £400 worth of food a month.

The tribunal, which is ruling on whether MPs should have to give a greater breakdown of expenditure, was told the Commons authorities have a "John Lewis list" to decide what can be claimed by MPs, though one request for a fishtank was recently refused.

Cities of London and Westminster MP Mr Field issued his warning in a letter to Commons Speaker Michael Martin, who has ordered a review of allowances.

Mr Field stressed that the £23,000 additional cost allowance - public funds for MPs to pay for a second home close to Westminster - had been "an accident waiting to happen".

"The time has come to abolish the ACA (which, in my view, all too frequently results in the improper use of Parliamentary allowances tantamount to a serious diversion of public funds)."

The Speaker's review of Commons perks and allowances follows a recent report by the independent Salaries Review Body which said the second home allowance created "the greatest scope for abuse" by MPs.