£9,900 bill for three days in a spa resort

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The 64-year-old, who is chairman of the International Development Committee, has enjoyed time in Ghana, China and the Philippines in the last year.

His most expensive trip was 10 days in China at a cost of £55,000. Four MPs and two staff members accompanied him.

In a three-day excursion he visited the Philippines for an inquiry into sustainable development.

The bill came to £9,900. He stayed at the Hilton Cebu resort and spa in Cebu, considered to be one of the best five-star hotels in the Philippines.

It boasts six "world-class restaurants" and has its own tropical gardens and private beach. Rooms, each with a marble bathroom, start at around £130.

Today he denied the amount spent on his accommodation and flights was excessive.

He said: "As the chairman of the International Development Committee I'm obliged to go on these trips so I'm bound to be the most travelled member of the committees.

"You have to stay somewhere which has the essential facilities. We don't stay at the most expensive and we don't stay at the cheapest. Sometimes we travel business class rather than economy because we often travel through the night and it makes it more comfortable and convenient."

Mr Bruce is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician and Member of Parliament for Gordon.

He was formerly Liberal Democrat shadow chancellor and since 2000 has been president of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.