Local MPs claim £2.5m

The taxpayer-funded average bill of £135,813 rose by nearly three times the rate of inflation last year.

Biggest payout in the area was to Sandwell MP Tom Watson, pictured, who claimed more than £150,000, including over £16,000 for stationery and postage.

But his total was dwarfed by highest claimer, International Development Minister Shahid Malik, who totted up £185,421 in charges, and the Minister for the West Midlands, Birmingham MP Liam Byrne, who was paid £178,116.

The lowest claim in the Express & Star area came from Richard Taylor, the independent MP for Wyre Forest, whose charges totalled £102,225.

MPs said they were "good value for money", but the Taxpayers' Alliance said they should be ashamed of themselves.

The pressure group chief executive Matthew Elliott said: "Families are struggling to pay higher tax bills whilst MPs are spending more and more of our money on themselves each year.

"No wonder voters have little respect for politicians when they see so many with their snouts in the trough."

Claims are for London housing, staff and office costs, travel, stamps, IT and stationery.

What your MP claimed in 2006/7

Tom Watson (Lab, West Bromwich East) £151,388, including £19,740 (London home); £24,459 (office running costs); £82,748 (staff); £2,381 (car mileage); £4,138 (rail fares); £16,189 (stationery and postage).

Ian Austin (Lab, Dudley North) £150,722 inc £22,076 (London); £20,907 (office); £86,356 (staff); £2,396 (car); £6,077 (rail); £11,501 (stationery, postage).

Lynda Waltho (Lab, Stourbridge) £144,230 inc £14,802 (London); £23,839 (office); £83,181 (staff); £2,444 (car); £5,197 (rail); £12,254 (stationery, postage).

Sir Patrick Cormack (Con, South Staffs) £140,245 inc £22,032 (London); £23,323 (office); £80,009 (staff); £4,851 (car); £266 (rail); £8,636 (stationery, postage).

David Kidney (Lab, Stafford) £138,399 inc £16,186 (London); £22,684 (office); £83,791 (staff); £0 (car); £5,091 (rail); £9,098 (stationery, postage).

Adrian Bailey (Lab, West Bromwich West) £137,658 inc £21,739 (London); £18,615 (office); £87,978 (staff); £3,036 (car); £2,646 (rail); £2,328 (stationery, postage).

Pat McFadden (Lab, Wolverhampton South East) £136,834 inc £22,110 (London); £25,449 (office); £73,858 (staff); £3,064 (car); £4,201 (rail); £6,766 (stationery, postage).

Ian Pearson (Lab, Dudley South) £134,202 inc £22,033 (London); £20,966 (office); 81,384 (staff); £4,949 (car); £348 (rail); £568 (stationery, postage).

Bill Cash (Con, Stone) £129,400 inc £20,919 (London); £20,211 (office); £75,232 (staff); £5,387 (car); £4,108 (rail); £1,824 (stationery, postage).

Rob Marris (Lab, Wolverhampton South West) £127,583 inc £11,111 (London); £21,758 (office); £85,957 (staff); £817 (car); £2,480 (rail); £38 (bicycle); £4,365 (stationery, postage).

Tony Wright (Lab, Cannock Chase) £126,875 inc £16,131 (London); £17,934 (office); £78,956 (staff); £2,435 (car); £6,316 (rail); £3,626 (stationery, postage).

Bruce George (Lab, Walsall South) £126,769 inc £16,866 (London); £15,286 (office); £84,389 (staff); £4,459 (car); £30 (rail); £3,102 (stationery, postage).

Ken Purchase (Lab, Wolverhampton North East) £126,502 inc £13,610 (London); £20,416 (office); £84,552 (staff); £5,403 (car); £102 (rail); £1,294 (stationery, postage).

Michael Fabricant (Con, Lichfield) £121,973 inc £22,110 (London); £14,765 (office); £73,095 (London); £3,536 (car); £4,133 (rail); £3,391 (stationery, postage).

Sylvia Heal (Halesowen and Rowley Regis £119,274 inc £8,897 (London); £12,921 (office); £85,583 (staff); £3,646 (car); £3,273 (rail); £3,603 (stationery, postage).

Philip Dunne (Con, Ludlow) £116,480 inc £0 (London); £21,076 (office); £86,216 (staff); £0 car; £3,206 (rail); £4,964 (stationery, postage).

John Spellar (Lab, Warley) £109,013 inc £10,764 (London); £11,093 (office); £76,315 b(staff); £4,846 (car); £419 (rail); £4,964 (stationery, postage).

Richard Shepherd (Con, Aldridge/Brownhills) £105,293 inc £17,529 (London); £20,224 (office); £60,830 (office); £5,491 (car); £120 (rail); £203 (stationery, postage).

David Winnick (Lab, Walsall North) £103,639 inc £9,626 (London); £21,794 (office); £65,826 (staff); £0 (car); £4,576 (rail); £319 (stationery, postage).

Richard Taylor (Independent, Wyre Forest) £102,225 inc £19,923 (London); £6,515 (office); £67,797 (staff); £0 (car); £4,879 (rail) and £2,059 (stationery, postage).