ONE MP drove more than 62,000 miles on parliamentary business last year, netting mileage expenses of £22,845, new figures have shown.

The distance is equivalent to travelling almost 2Å times around the world. The allowance provided by the taxpayer would have bought more than 24,000 litres of petrol.

House of Commons officials have previously refused to divulge the sums claimed by MPs for car travel. But last week Geoff Hoon, leader of the house, released figures showing that MPs claimed £3.73m in motor mileage allowances in 2004-05.

The top claimants clocked up more than 400,000 miles between them and collected more than £174,500. Details of the trips have not been released.

MPs spend most of the week in London when parliament is sitting. They can claim mileage for constituency work and for travel between their main home, Westminster and their constituency.

The MP with the highest mileage averaged 120 miles each day parliament was sitting — although the allowance is also payable when the house is not in session. MPs are allowed to claim up to 350 miles a month in their constituency without giving details of journeys, but must provide more details for mileage above that.

Tom Brake, the Liberal Democrat shadow transport secretary, said that he was concerned about the environmental impact.

“While the MPs responsible may well be required to travel large distances as part of their job, there must be more environmentally responsible ways for them to do this than by car,” he said.

The expenses packages enjoyed by MPs are generous. They can claim up to £21,634 for the cost of living away from their main home, including a payout of up to £400 a month for food.

When MPs’ expenses were first disclosed last year the mileage rate was criticised for being significantly higher than that paid in the public and private sectors. MPs subsequently agreed to cut it from April this year to 40p for the first 10,000 miles and 25p a mile thereafter.

The mileage rate for MPs using bicycles has increased to a generous 20p.

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