Yorkshire Post: MPs face heat over £10,000 kitchen allowance

MPs are facing fresh criticism of their taxpayer-funded expenses after it was disclosed they can claim up to £10,000 for a new kitchen and £300 for air-conditioning units.

They can also buy televisions and stereos worth £750 apiece, and pay £6,335 for a bathroom out of their Parliamentary allowances.

The amounts MPs can claim under their expenses regime were disclosed by the House of Commons after a Freedom of Information Act request by the Press Association news agency

They are contained in the "John Lewis list" – thus named because it is based on prices at the department store – which Commons officials use to approve or reject MPs' expenses claims.

It details the precedents for spending on household items which MPs can claim on their £22,000-a-year second homes allowance.

The document was not even known to most MPs until recently because the Commons authorities feared they would take advantage of it and claim the maximum amount available. Limits include £1,000 for a bed, £250 for a coffee table, £600 for a dining table, £500 for a dressing table, £550 for a fridge-freezer and £200 for a blender.

Carpets and wood flooring can be bought at £35 per square metre. Up to £300 apiece can be claimed for rugs, £795 for a sideboard, and £700 for a wardrobe.

MPs can also buy DVD players costing up to £270 and claim it back, as well as dry cleaning "within reasonable limits".

The document says that John Lewis is used as a guide because it "came out top of all retail shops" in the February 2007 editionof Which?, on cost, customer service and variety of goods.

But last night MPs questioned the justification for some of the limits and the TaxPayers' Alliance said the prices were out of reach for many voters.

The campaigning group's chief executive, Matthew Elliott, said: "How many ordinary taxpayers spend £1,500 on a TV and stereo when there are cheaper deals elsewhere?

"No wonder the Government wastes so much money, if MPs don't have to stick to a tight budget themselves."

Labour MP David Winnick urged a review of MPs' expenses to look into the price list.

"It does look rather expensive for a number of items and obviously the public will say 'Why should John Lewis be the benchmark?"' Mr Winnick said.

Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, who has campaigned for greater openness on expenses, said: "I think the public will think this is more unnecessary expenditure by MPs.