ALTON'S MP has hit out at accusations that politicians were purposely racking up unreasonably large amounts of money on their expenses.

The Rt Hon Michael Mates slammed the system as "crazy" and called for a re-thinking of the way MPs are expected to run and pay for their staff.

"I think the whole system is crazy," he told The Herald. "Nowhere else would someone in a responsible job be expected to hire a secretary, then provide her with paper, pens, ink, shorthand notebooks, computers and everything else. That is the system we live with.

"I think it's terrible. I think we should be provided with proper staff and proper equipment, and then the question of expenses, of that kind, doesn't arise."

Following an unprecedented decision by Members of Parliament last week to release information about their expenses, before the Freedom of Information Act forces them to do so from January, it was revealed that the average amount claimed each year amounted to £118,437. This is on top of the £57,485 salary they receive, meaning that the average backbencher receives nearly £176,000 a year.

The national average wage is just over £20,000.

But Mr Mates, whose total expenses for the year 2003-2004 came to £118,374, argues that politicians do not benefit personally from these figures.

"I don't see any of this money," he said. "One of the things we get pilloried for is that people think I'm drawing that amount of money. I'm not.

"I've got my computer, I've got my staff, and I've got my travel and I've got my flat in London. It's not money."

As a politician who has represented, and lived in, the area for sometime - he was MP for Petersfield from 1974 to 1983 when he took over the East Hampshire constituency - Mr Mates frequently travels to London to conduct Parliamentary business.

On the question of whether he thinks the 57.7 pence per mile travel rate - the Inland Revenue recommends 40 pence - was exorbitant, he said: "Yes I do, and I understand it's going to be cut down, but it's the civil service rate. That's how it came about.

"Of course, we have to have travel expenses because we work in two places."

Members can charge 57.7 pence a mile for the first 20,000 per year and then 26.6 pence thereafter.

Apart from spending £8,812 on travel, Mr Mates accrued £71,773 in staff costs, £20,326 in "additional costs allowance" and £17,463 in "incidental expenses provision".

He did not agree with claims in the media that MPs were using generous allowances to fund second homes.

"I live here," he continued, "I have an apartment in London which I wouldn't have if I wasn't an MP. I get an allowance for that. I don't make anything out of it."

While the independent Review Body on Senior Salaries is hoping to encourage MPs to set up their main offices in their constituencies, vastly reducing the amount spent on travel and accommodation each year, it has reportedly said that, in other respects, the system of MPs' allowances is "working well".

One recommendation argued that the allowance for MPs' staff should be raised from £72,310 a year to £80,460, enabling them to employ three full-time staff.

In the past five years, the total cost of MPs' pay, expenses and staff costs has risen by more than 50 per cent to £130 million.

Proposals by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to create new regional assemblies, which will mean a reorganising of local government, are seen as threatening another tier of government - and one with no real power - that will increase politicians' expense claims yet further.

Mr Prescott claims that elected regional assemblies will "give the regions a democratic voice", creating "a wide-ranging general power" which will "enable them to promote economic and social development in their region, as well as improving and protecting the environment".

He says the assemblies will also be able to "promote economic and social development in their region, as well as improving and protecting the environment".

But Mr Mates argues that the regional assemblies are also "crazy" and will cost money and serve little purpose.

"I voted against them and I very much hope that people in the north-east will say no in this referendum," he said.

"They are a waste of time, they are an added layer of bureaucracy and they'll cost money."