Rent row minister 'had no receipts'

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Sir Philip Mawer, the Prime Minister's adviser on ministerial interests, said it was "unfortunate" Mr Malik had not been able to establish a proper audit trail to support his assertions.

Mr Malik was able to return to the Government on Wednesday as a junior communities minister after he was cleared by Sir Philip of breaching the Ministerial Code of Conduct by failing to disclose a declarable interest.

But The Daily Telegraph has published fresh allegations that Mr Malik claimed the maximum second home allowance on his London property while he funded his office on the ground floor of his constituency home in Dewsbury through a separate system of Parliamentary office expenses.

In a brief statement, Mr Malik said: "I have never claimed anything from the public purse for any living accommodation apart from that which is permissible for my second home.

"I have certainly not claimed a penny from the public purse for my designated main home."

The latest claims came as the Cabinet Office released Sir Philip's full report - with the address of Mr Malik's Dewsbury house omitted, along with the name of his landlord, Tahir Zaman, and his property company, even though they had been previously published by the Telegraph.

It found Mr Malik had originally rented one property for £320 a month for three-and-a-half years until the end of May 2008. He then moved into the larger property next door for a monthly rent of £620.

Sir Philip said he was satisfied that Mr Malik had been charged a commercial rent on both properties, but expressed concern at the way in which payments were made on the second house.

"It is unfortunate, particularly given his public position, that in respect of that house, Mr Malik did not think of obtaining at the outset a rental agreement specifying in writing the rent to be paid," Sir Philip said.