Colchester MP's claims are the lowest in Essex

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 2nd Jun 2009

Official House of Commons figures show that Colchester MP Bob Russell has claimed the lowest "second home" allowance of any of the 17 Members of Parliament representing Essex constituencies.

The Liberal Democrat MP's claim was less than half the maximum available to MPs, coming in at £10,963 whereas the maximum which could be claimed was £23,083. The figures are for the 2007-08 financial year. Mr Russell says his claim for the last financial year, which have yet to be published, is even lower so he is confident that he will retain his position as being the lowest claiming MP in Essex and one of the lowest in the country.

Several of the Essex MPs claimed the maximum £23,083, or came close to it with figures in excess of £20,000.

Four Conservative MPs claimed the maximum: Mr John Baron (Billericay), Mr Douglas Carswell (Harwich), Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex) and Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and Chelmsford East). Castle Point Independent Mr Bob Spink also claimed the full sum. Epping Forest Conservative Mrs Eleanor Laing was just £1 below the maximum.

Coming in at £20 below the maximum was Mr David Amess (Southend West) with £23,063. His neighbouring MP, Mr James Duddridge (Rochford and Southend East), claimed £22,975 while Mr Mark Francois (Rayleigh) claimed £20,689. Sir Alan Haselhurst (Saffron Walden) claimed £22,957 and Mr Brooks Newmark £20,000. All are Conservatives.

Claims by the county's other MPs were as follows - Conservatives Mr Simon Burns (Chelmsford West) £18,908 and Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood and Ongar) £13,689; and Labour MPs Mr Andrew MacKinlay (Thurrock) £15,761, Angela Smith (Basildon) £14,618, and Bill Rammell (Harlow) £12,928.