A HAMPSHIRE MP has been cleared of an expenses debt after the Commons watchdog incorrectly named her as owing money over a telephone bill.

Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage was named by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) as one of 26 current and former MPs who failed to settle sums of up to £500 last year, forcing them to be written off.

It said equalities minister Mrs Dinenage paid a £13.50 constituency office telephone bill on a card, later deemed ineligible.

But Mrs Dinenage called the watchdog to dispute the charge and later tweeted her name would be removed from the list after IPSA agreed it was a mistake.

 


 

In total £2,105.43 was written off last year, with Ipsa insisting they contacted the individuals asking for the money several times.

Details of each MP's expenses and office costs for 2014-15 have also been published - with spending rising 1.6 per cent to nearly £106 million.