NORTH Oxfordshire MP Tony Baldry claimed £1,265 for the cost of hiring a Kenco coffee machine and stand, his published Parliamentary expenses reveal.

Mr Baldry, also claimed for telephone and internet costs, assorted stationery and room hire for constituency surgeries.

Over the past four years Mr Baldry, an MP for 25 years, claimed a total of £3,834.83 for stationery, £11,446 in postage, and £12.75 for an electric stapler.

Along with all other MPs, Mr Baldry’s expenses have been published online at parliament.uk Between 2004 and June 2006 he initially claimed £416.66 per month, later rising to £500 a month, for office accommodation rented from the North Oxfordshire Conservative Association.

He also claimed for researcher fees and secretarial support, the cost of advertising in local newspapers and spent £20,508 on newsletters and leaflets distributed throughout his constituency.

In 2007/08, he bought a £105.58 dictaphone and a month later a transcribing machine for £217.

Mr Baldry claimed £2,348.83 to set up his website and a further £5,440.26 on computer support and consultancy.

Mr Baldry said: “I think people have to understand this is money which is used to run an office to look after constituents.

“Out of it will come such things as advertising constituency surgeries, and from time to time over the years I have called public meetings such as Bicester Community Hospital and I have rented rooms at the Littlebury Hotel.

“With major campaigns like post offices and the Horton Hospital I have taken space in local newspapers so people can take petitions to Parliament.

“It seems to me this is part of the Parliamentary process and that’s important.

“I have 25 per cent more constituents than the average, which does involve myself and team responding to and dealing with a large number of queries from individuals.

“That requires a team both here in London and in the constituency.”

Mr Baldry’s designated second home is in London, for which he claimed £8,578 and £9,313 for repairs or renovation in 2007/08.

Over the past four years he has claimed £39,139.29 for this London property.

The expense claims of every MP for the past four years have been made available on the parliament.uk website.

However, key details of claims were blacked out by House of Commons officials, on security and privacy grounds, before they were publised online.

Censored details include the addresses where the claims relate and the names of employees and personal details.

bicester@oxfordmail.co.uk l Tomorrow, the Oxford Mail examines the expenses claims of Oxford West and Abingdon MP Evan Harris.