MPs in North and East Yorkshire claimed more than £13,400 in expenses in the first six weeks of this year, Government figures have revealed.

The latest breakdown of how much the region’s elected representatives in Westminster recouped from taxpayers for accommodation and travel, as well as renting office space, has been laid out by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).

The regulator’s analysis covers the whole of January and the early part of February. It shows York Central MP Hugh Bayley claimed £2,358.08 while his York Outer counterpart Julian Sturdy claimed £1,502.

Of the region’s MPs, Selby and Ainsty member Nigel Adams’s claim was the largest at £3,982.48, of which £2,900 covered the cost of renting accommodation and a further £250 related to his constituency office. He also claimed £282 for advertising and £310.60 for other “general administration”.

Mr Adams said there was need for people to make a distinction between the amounts claimed by MPs for expenditure on matters such as food, drink and travel and the costs of running offices.

He said: “There is a bizarre system for MPs where items such as renting accommodation, furniture and even photocopier paper and cartridges are classed as expenses.

“That wouldn’t be the case in any other job and I don’t think the public are always aware of that situation, but that’s the system we work under and it has to be 100 per cent transparent and above board.

“When you are using public money, you must account for every penny spent, and what went on under the previous Government shows that this is absolutely correct.”

Mr Bayley’s claims included £15 for mileage covered by cycling in York and London, £199.60 for car travel and £628.65 for public transport, while the bulk of Mr Sturdy’s total – £1,495 – was accounted for by rent for accommodation.

Meanwhile, Thirsk and Malton MP Anne McIntosh claimed £3,332.10 in January and early February, including £42 for water and £105.84 for a printer. Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones’ claims totalled £2,217.98, of which £622.80 was for car use.

East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight submitted only one claim for £40.80, relating to phone usage. All the amounts claimed for by the six MPs were found to be valid after being assessed by IPSA.