SIR NICHOLAS Winterton’s published expenses have revealed a fondness for trips to ambassadors’ homes, House of Commons greeting cards – and a claim for a senior citizen’s railcard.

Taxpayers could be said to have been "really spoiling" Macclesfield’s retiring MP by funding a raft of taxi fares to London homes of far-flung ambassadors – just like in the famous Ferrero Rocher adverts.

Sir Nick claimed for journeys from the House of Commons to Turkish, Swedish, Chilean and Danish ambassadors’ residences between May and December 2006.

In 2007, Sir Nick made taxi ride claims totalling more than £200, but the destination has in each case been blacked out.

A spokesman for Sir Nick said the functions he attended were through his responsibilities as chairman of various all party groups.

"He attends official dinners at ambassadors’ residences," he said. "It is all on Parliamentary business. There are various meetings and receptions throughout the year.

"If the Finnish Prime Minister is visiting for example, he would go along and represent the group. He has to get from A to B."

Details of all Sir Nick’s expenses claims between 2004 and 2008 were released by Parliament last week.

Other claims included:

  • £20 for a senior citizen’s rail pass in August 2006.
  • Half (£92) a room charge at the Belfast Hilton in November 2006, during a two-night stay in Northern Ireland.
  • £29.97 for camera film on a trip to Australia with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in 2004.
  • Three packs of House of Commons and Palace of Westminster greetings cards in June 2006.

His monthly claims included £900 for his mortgage, £150 for the telephone and regularly between £100 and £200 on food.

Sir Nick has links to many international parliamentary groups.

As chairman:

  • All Party Parliamentary British Danish Group.
  • All Party Parliamentary British Falklands Island Group.
  • All Party Parliamentary British Austrian Group.
  • All Party Parliamentary British Taiwan Group (joint).

Vice-chairman:

  • All Party Parliamentary British Swedish Group.
  • All Party Parliamentary Group on Sri Lanka.
  • All Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe.
  • British South Pacific All Party Parliamentary Group.

He is a member of numerous others, including the British Finland Group, Group for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the British Gibraltar Group.

MP expenses details are available by visiting www.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/finances.cfm.

  • SIR Nick praised outgoing Speaker of the House Michael Martin’s "humanity" in a Commons speech.

    During tributes in the House of Commons on Friday (June 19), Macclesfield’s MP said: "I think that if people had actually got to know you as an individual – a man of kindness, a man of humanity – some of the totally unjustified criticism that has been levelled at you would never have been spoken.

    "I deeply regret it. I think I can say on behalf of many members of this House that I feel the criticism that has been made of you as much as if it had been made of me personally, because it was unjustified; you were not understood."

    A new speaker, Conservative MP John Bercow, was elected on Monday to replace Mr Martin, who had been criticised for standing in the way of reform over MPs’ expenses.

    ben.turner@menmedia.co.uk