HALESOWEN and Rowley Regis MP James Morris claimed costs of around £165,000 last year, new figures reveal.

Figures from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority show the Conservative MP's business costs for the 2020-21 financial year were £165,404.

They were up from £149,833 the year before, but well below the average for all MPs, of £203,880.

Vice Chamberlain of HM Household (Government Whip) James Morris, who was elected in May 2010, spent £145,900 on office running costs in 2020-21, including £134,300 on staff wages and £11,600 on other office expenditures.

He spent £17,800 of his £27,000 accommodation budget, and £1,800 on travel and subsistence.

James Morris MP said: “The last financial year did see an increase to my office costs, as I had to re-assess my staffing arrangements to ensure we were working as effectively as possible.

"MPs were offered an additional allowance in light of the extra workload created by Covid 19 and the requirement for staff to work from home, but this is not something I have taken up.

"As an MP first elected in the wake of the expenses scandal, I have always arrived to be as efficient as possible in my claims and ensure taxpayers get value for money.

"I am pleased my expenditure for 2020-21 falls below the national average.”

Business costs are the essential costs incurred by MPs while carrying out their parliamentary duties including staffing, office costs and travel.

MPs cannot claim for personal costs, such as food and drink, during their normal working day.

Figures show 99 individual claims were made by James Morris in 2020-21, with the smallest expense the 54-year-old claimed £21.00 for stationery and printing.

The average cost of an MP was up 29%, from £158,103, in 2019-20.

Kit Malthouse was the most expensive MP attending the Cabinet in 2020-21, with total costs of £244,312.

This was compared to £178,406 for Prime Minister Boris Johnson and £168,109 for Sir Keir Starmer.

The total costs of MPs last year rose by 4%, to £132.5 million.