The Conservative MP behind moves to exempt MPs from freedom of information legislation bought a £3,300 quad bike on parliamentary expenses.

David Maclean, the author of a private member’s bill to restricting voters’ rights to details of individual MPs’ pay and allowances, was granted permission by the Commons authorities to charge his top of the range all-terrain vehicle to taxpayers.

Maclean, a former Tory chief whip, has multiple sclerosis and argues that it is the most efficient way of getting round parts of his rural constituency. But the disclosure that he was able to claim the 250cc bike on expenses will fuel the row over his new legislation, which was voted through by MPs last week.

Critics have attacked Maclean’s bill as a deliberate attempt to stop the public obtaining embarrassing details of MPs’ expenses claims and fear the measures will further undermine public trust in politicians.

Maclean has defended the purchase, insisting he has nothing to hide. The 54-year-old walks with the aid of a shepherd’s crook and says the alternative would be a mobility scooter, which would not be as practical for attending events in his Penrith and Borders constituency.

Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, he said: “Yes, I do have a quad bike, and yes, I have bought it on expenses. I asked if I was eligible for it, and was told yes.”

Official figures show that last year Maclean claimed a total of £129,700 in Commons allowances – around the average figure for MPs – on top of his £59,000 basic salary. The sum includes £6,969 for motoring and £8,561 for train travel.

Of the quad bike he said: “I have the biggest constituency in the country and I attend several big agricultural shows throughout the year. I can take it anywhere. I could use a mobility scooter I suppose, but it would probably get stuck.”

Maclean argues that his new laws are needed to protect confidential correspondence between MPs and their constituents.

However, such correspondence is already covered by the Data Protection Act. According to Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrat MP who has led opposition to Maclean’s bill, the information commissioner has not received a single complaint from an MP’s constituent about the inappropriate release of correspondence, and the Commons’ library has no records of such complaints.

Gordon Brown is facing fierce criticism for failing to discourage Labour MPs from supporting Maclean’s measures. Several ministers backed the bill, which was fiercely opposed by the Liberal Democrats.

However, the chancellor will act to prevent the government introducing new restrictions on freedom of information requests proposed by Lord Falconer. The prime minister in waiting has serious reservations about proposals to make it more difficult for the public to obtain access to government documents.

He has already intervened to delay the plans proposed by Falconer, the constitutional affairs secretary, by ordering the measures to be subjected to a lengthy public consultation.

Although sources close to Brown insist “no decisions” have been made, they made clear his disapproval of any moves to curb open government.

Despite his failure to act over Maclean’s bill, the chancellor’s allies insist he remains fully committed to government openness, despite recent embarrassment over secret Treasury papers released under the act. The documents suggested Brown ignored advice when he abolished tax relief on pension funds.

There were more than 38,000 freedom of information requests in 2005, costing public bodies millions of pounds. Falconer has said he wants to block “the most difficult” requests by introducing a flat fee to “inhibit serial requesters”.

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