MEMBERS of parliament who represent constituencies less than an hour’s commuting distance from Westminster are claiming upward of £20,000 of taxpayers’ money a year to fund “overnight” homes in central London.

The latest expenses dodge by MPs has caused outrage among senior politicians who want colleagues who live within commuting distance of parliament to be barred from claiming the cash.

A committee of MPs set up by Michael Martin, the Speaker, to review Commons expenses is to consider whether London MPs should be banned from claiming housing allowances which were created when late-night sittings were the norm. It will also examine whether the system of housing allowances for MPs across the rest of Britain should be scrapped.

Twenty-four MPs with seats in Greater London claimed almost £400,000 of public money to fund second homes last year.

They were entitled to housing payments of £22,110 - the same as MPs with seats

hundreds of miles away in Scotland and Cornwall.

Two Labour MPs with neighbouring constituencies in west London, Alan and Ann Keen, a junior health minister, have claimed more than £175,000 in allowances since 2002 even though their family home in her constituency is less than 10 miles from parliament.

A third MP, John Austin, who claimed £22,110, bought a London flat which is approximately the same travelling time from Westminster as his constituency home.

Tony Wright, Labour chairman of the Commons public administration committee, has written to the Commons estimates committee, in charge of the review, asking it to examine if such allowances are justified. He said that millions of commuters would be outraged that London MPs were using taxpayers’ money to fund second properties.

“People who commute will find it very difficult to understand why people who live within commuting distance need separate houses,” he said. “This is one of the issues that needs to be looked at.”

In Scotland the allowances are claimed only by MSPs who live more than 90 minutes away from the Holyrood parliament.

Nick Harvey, a Liberal Democrat member of the review committee, said: “This is well within the scope of the inquiry and an issue we are very well aware of.

“The entire Additional Costs Allowance [ACA] is certainly an issue we are looking at. There are bigger questions such as whether the ACA [which covers housing costs] should continue to exist.”

Among the highest claimants are the Keens, who share a family home in Brentford which has frequent train services to Water-loo taking half an hour. In 2002 the couple bought a £500,000 flat which is a 15-minute walk from Westminster. Both were unavailable for comment.

Andrew Rosindell, Tory MP for Romford in Essex, claimed £22,110 last year even though the train from Romford to Liverpool Street takes less than 30 minutes. Rosindell, who was also unavailable for comment, bought a flat in Southwark, across the Thames from Westminster, for £325,000 in 2002.

Joan Ryan, Labour MP for Enfield North, has a home in her constituency. Last year she opted to claim £21,971 in housing allowance for a flat nearer parliament in Kennington, south London.

By contrast her neighbour, the MP for Chingford, Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, claimed just £566 in housing allowances.

Ryan said commuting could be “absolutely awful”. She said: “I didn’t claim this until I became a government whip and then had to do much longer days and travel back and forth.”

A series of family-friendly reforms has dramatically curbed the late night culture. In 1979 more than half of all sittings continued until after midnight, with 14% continuing beyond 2am. But since October 2003 the House of Commons has opted to finish at 7.30pm on most days.

Last year nearly two-thirds of all sittings were completed by 10pm, while only one debate concluded after midnight.

MPs representing inner London constituencies are eligible only for a London supplement of £2,800.

MPs for outer London constituencies can choose to receive the supplement or the ACA. Of the 49 outer London MPs, 24 claim some or all of the ACA.

Barry Gardiner, Labour MP for Brent North, claims the allowance even though he does not own a house in his constituency.

Dawn Butler, the Labour MP for Brent South, whose constituency is just 5½ miles from parliament (or 4½ miles as the crow flies), claimed £21,803 last year She owns a house in her constituency and a house in Stratford, east London, but not close to parliament.

A spokesman said that it was justified: “When she was elected she moved straight into the constituency and the ACA helps her to do that.”

The Dagenham MP Jon Cruddas, a former contender for the deputy Labour leadership, claimed £22,055 last year.

John Austin, Labour MP for Erith and Thamesmead, claimed £22,110 last year even though the train from his constituency takes about 40 minutes to Charing Cross. He has a flat in Rotherhithe, southeast London, which is also just 40 minutes away from Westminster by public transport.

Times Recommends

• Fern Britton: 'I still can't see that I was wrong'
• Extreme cooking
• Easy French: Tarte Tatin