Allowancegate: Mr Speaker's home improvements

House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin has had £1.7 million of taxpayers’ money spent on his grace-and-favour apartment and garden. The Speaker is paid £138,000 a year.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show £724,000 has been spent on the residence since 2001. £148,000 was spent on furniture.

Michael Martin has already been the subject of criticism over his use of air miles earned on official trips for his family, claiming more than £75,000 of second homes allowance though he has no mortgage on his Glasgow property and the fact that his wife claimed more than £4,000 in taxi expenses.