THE Speaker is holding talks over a possible climbdown in his battle to let MPs keep details of their expenses claims secret.

A committee of senior members chaired by Michael Martin is discussing plans to publish a breakdown of how much politicians claim for food, hotel rooms, furniture, cleaning, their mortgages and even personal security.

The move to break expenses down into 11 categories would be a compromise which backers hope would head off pressure for even greater disclosure.

It falls short of the full publication of members’ receipts, which was ordered by the information tribunal but which Martin is now leading a High Court action to block. The disclosure of details for 14 MPs was ordered partly in response to an application by The Sunday Times under the freedom of information act.

Sources close to the Commons commission, which has discussed the move, said the concession was necessary as the house was losing the public relations battle over expenses and needed to open up the system.

It is understood the plan is to introduce the new system in October.

“It has been our plan for some time to do this — to publish in categories of expenses,” said a source.

Martin has been under scrutiny this weekend with the disclosure that his official residence has received improvements costing over £700,000 since he took the speaker’s job in 2000.

The Commons will this week unveil proposals for reform of expenses. One option will be to replace the controversial accommodation allowance — used by Conway among others — home with an increase in MPs’ salary or a daily attendance allowance.

It will also include the option of members’ staff being employed centrally by the Commons, rather than by individual MPs. Final proposals for reform will be published in the summer.

Nick Harvey MP, a Liberal Democrat MP and spokesman for the Commons Commission, said: “This issues paper will demonstrate that radical ideas our being considered.”

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