THE total bill for MPs' expenses and costs rose from £98 million to £103 million last year, according to the latest figures.

More than £80 million was spent on staff, and MPs also claimed more than £11 million on accommodation, travel and subsistence during 2013/14 and almost £11 million on office costs.

The bill for accommodation, covering hotels, rented homes and utility bills, was £6.9 million, with £4.5 million claimed for travel and subsistence.

The details emerged in the annual release of information by expenses watchdog the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa).

The biggest claim was by the DUP's Jim Shannon, with a total spend of £229,262, including £38,215 on travel reflecting the cost of getting to his Strangford constituency, and £12,126 on hotels.

Mr Shannon exceeded his budget for both staffing costs, spending £143,074, and office costs, at £35,847.

Ipsa's chairman Sir Ian Kennedy claimed the system was saving money compared to the discredited regime of tthe expenses scandal.

He said: "About 90 per cent of the costs go on staffing and running an office: unsurprising given that MPs operate the equivalent of 650 small businesses.... As part of our system of regulation, we have reduced the cost to the taxpayer by £58 million. Such is the progress made since the scandals which came to light in 2009, that our work is now attracting the attention of Parliaments around the world."