MPs leave Commons food and drink bills unpaid for months

Details of how dozens of MPs ran up unpaid bills for food and drink in Parliament totalling tens of thousands of pounds at taxpayers' expense were revealed today.

Figures released by the House of Commons show that Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman had a £1,035 tab left uncleared for more than six months, and the new Business Secretary, Vince Cable, left £321 unpaid.

Labour London MPs Alan and Ann Keen — dubbed "Mr and Mrs Expenses" over their large second home claims — left bills adding up to more than £360 unpaid for between three and six months. The biggest debtor was Labour MP Khalid Mahmood, whose debt had reached £8,200.

All the accounts have now been settled. Bob Castle, head of Commons information rights and security, said MPs were "operating within the letter and spirit of the system".