Spotlight to fall on MPs' expenses in Freedom of Information ruling

Details of MPs' expenses are to be made public after a Freedom of Information ruling.

Information Commissioner Richard Thomas has ruled that the annual Additional Costs Allowance should be broken down into 12 categories. The House of Commons now has 35 days to comply with the ruling and publish MPs' figures for the past year.

The 12 categories are: mortgage costs, hotel bills, food, service charges, utilities, telecoms, furnishings, maintenance, cleaning, insurance, basic security and "other".

The allowance is paid to all MPs who live outside London and MPs can claim up to £21,634 each year.

The House of Commons Commission is expected to appeal against the ruling on the grounds that they have an expectation of privacy.