The head of the Government's spending watchdog faced calls to resign today over his expenses claims.

Sir John Bourn's claims included spending £365,000 on travel since 2004, including £1,718.60 for flights to Venice and £1,175.40 for flights to Lisbon for business trips on which his wife, Lady Bourn, accompanied him.

The National Audit Office head's claims also feature £8,593.69 for a trip to San Francisco for the Global Working Group of Auditors General in April, again accompanied by Lady Bourn.

He has also run up an account for meals totalling £27,000 over a three-year period for 175 lunches and dinners.

Included in his freebies were a visit to the British Grand Prix paid for by BAE Systems which the National Audit Office, has investigated over its Al Yamamah arms deal with Saudi Arabia.

The latest revelations come only months after Sir John was cleared of any wrongdoing after racking up £336,000 in expenses from globetrotting trips.

An investigation by the Public Accounts Committee into last June's figures found "no evidence of impropriety" and that Sir John had acted "in accordance with the existing rules".

Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on the Cabinet Office, called on Sir John to quit after the latest figures.

"It is incredible that Sir John Bourn has seen fit to run up gigantic bills for largesse at the taxpayers’ expense," he said.

"Even more serious is appearing to accept hospitality from companies such as BAE which compromises the independent and professional standing essential to someone in this post.

"The time has come for him to call it a day in the interests of good administration."

Sir John had faced criticism last June when it emerged that he had made at least 43 journeys abroad at the taxpayer’s expense over three years. His wife, Lady Bourn, accompanied him on 22 of the stays at a cost to the public purse of £76,000.

Despite concluding that he had not been guilty of any wrongdoing, the PAC did conclude that "a more transparent system" was needed for the NAO head’s expenses, and suggested Sir John - the Comptroller and Auditor General - should be made subject to the same kind of rules that apply to Permanent Secretaries in Whitehall.

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