WORCESTERSHIRE'S MPs have welcomed calls for greater transparency following last week's suspension of an MP for overpaying his son.

Last week Derek Conway, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, was suspended for 10 days and ordered to re-pay the £13,161 he overpaid his son Freddie. Since the suspension, the three main parties at Westminster have urged their MPs for greater transparency about any family members working for them.

MP for Worcester Mike Foster, employs his wife Shauna as a part-time diary and office manager.

"That is the only way the job can be done because of the very irregular hours we do," he said.

"For my part all my staff have their contracts of employment lodged with the House of Commons and all are paid according to the salary scales they determine."

Peter Luff, MP for Mid Worcestershire, also employs his wife as a secretary and has done since he was elected 16-years-ago.

Following the leader's calls he has declared his wife Julia's employment on the members' register of interests but said he did not believe it was the right place to declare it.

"This issue is of public money so I do not think it belongs to the register of members' interests, I rather resent having to do it," he said.

"There are other ways of making it public. I have not been hiding it, I have been using every possible source."

West Worcestershire MP, Sir Michael Spicer, was unavailable for comment.