EAST Hampshire MP Damian Hinds cost taxpayers around £189,000 in expenses last year.

Figures from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority show his total business costs for 2020-21 were £189,294.78, up from £156,279.14 the year before but below the average of £203,880.

Mr Hinds spent £156,600 on office costs, including £149,500 on wages and £7,000 on other expenditure, and £31,100 of his £33,900 accommodation budget – plus £1,600 on travel and subsistence.

He made 195 claims, the most expensive being £146,486.98 for staff payroll and the cheapest 73p for stationery and printing.

His five largest types of costs were:

Payroll – £146,486.98

Rent – £31,200

Pooled staffing services – £3,047

Stationery and printing – £2,845.63

Equipment purchase – £1,211.28

He also claimed £481.79 in working from home allowance.