CALLS were made last night for a review of MPs’ expenses and allowances after more evidence emerged of the soaring cost of Parliament.

New figures revealed that MPs in the south claimed almost £2m of taxpayers’ money last year.

The cash was used to pay for the cost of MPs staying away from home for parliamentary business, postage, travel, stationary and office bills.

Statistics published yesterday by the Commons authorities showed Romsey MP Sandra Gidley was the costliest in the region, claiming a total of £159,636 in 2007/8.

The Lib Dem, who is currently in New Zealand on parliamentary business, insisted: “I claim only what I need to serve my constituents. All of this money, or the vast bulk of it, never goes anywhere near an MP. It pays staff.

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“The question people should really be asking is if MPs are using very little of their allowances are they doing the job properly?”

Winchester’s Mark Oaten claimed £155,911.

The claims of both Mrs Gidley and Mr Oaten – along with those of Southampton Itchen’s John Denham (£154,260) and Basingstoke’s Maria Miller (£152,888) – all exceeded the national average of £144,176.

Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead, whose annual allowance was £144,698, said: “I claim what it costs me. The money includes paying for three full-time and one part-time member of staff.”

At the other end of the league, and among the ten least expensive MPs in the UK, was New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne, who expressed disappointment that his £94,753 claim was not the smallest in the country.

Mr Swayne said the number of MPs should be gradually reduced – from 646 to about half that total – to save the cost to the taxpayer.

He said: “I’m in the bottom ten [for allowances] but I’d have liked to have been right at the bottom. It’s right to minimise absolutely the whole culture of allowances and pensions and the number of MPs has to be addressed.

“MPs are costing taxpayers too much at the moment and we should reduce the number by ten per cent over a Parliament by talking to the Boundary Commission. We could manage with half what we have now.”

The region’s total topped £1.8m, which included £252,304 under the controversial Additional Costs Allowance (ACA), designed to help MPs pay for the costs of staying away from home on parliamentary business.

The figures were published the day after Home Secretary Jacqui Smith admitted she “mistakenly” claimed £10 under the ACA for two adult films, watched by her husband at her constituency home.

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She has promised to repay the money but the scandal has increased demands for an overhaul of the system.

Mark Wallace, campaign director at the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said he is appalled at the amount being claimed by MPs.

“People are increasingly frustrated that the cost of Parliament rises every single year, without fail,” he said.

“It’s important, particularly given recent evidence, that some MPs are abusing taxpayers’ generosity, that the rules are tightened and the system is made transparent, and that MPs tighten their belts.