REDDITCH MP and Government minister Jacqui Smith has hit back at claims MPs are receiving too much money, saying her expenditure merely enables her to do her job.

Ms Smith, Minister of State for Industry and the Regions and Deputy Minister for Women and Equality, said she was "not ashamed" of her expenditure, which at just above £125,500.

That figure excludes her annual salary of more than £90,000 - and ranks slightly above the average MP's expenditure of £118,430, but is still £63,000 less than the highest claimed.

MPs were last week criticised in the national Press for claiming expenditure of up to about £189,000.

But according to Ms Smith, MPs use their allowances to pay "absolutely everything", from computers and office furniture to transport and stationery.

She said: "I'm very happy that my expenditure is out in the open and I am not ashamed at all."

Ms Smith claimed £7,659 for travel, with an additional £547 spent on travel for her staff. Postage costs reached £8,905.

She said: "I have four constituency surgeries a month and a lot of time and money is needed to stay in contact with my constituents.

"Every Friday, my colleagues and I go into the community, knocking on doors and discussing their concerns.

"I acknowledge I am on a good wage, but I do my job properly and was successful with recent issues such as Redditch schools, bus passes and the proposed incinerator at Astwood Bank because of the money available to me.

She added: "A breakdown of my expenditure will be available on my website later this week."

Anyone interested can visit www.jacquismithmp.labour.co.uk