Spending watchdog's expenses probed

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Sir John Bourn's most recent claims include £1,718.60 for flights to Venice and £1,175.40 for flights to Lisbon for business trips on which his wife, Lady Bourn, accompanied him.

His claim also includes £8,593.69 for a trip to San Francisco for the Global Working Group of Auditors General in April, again accompanied by Lady Bourn.

He has also claimed a total of £1,651.56 for 11 business lunches and dinners.

In June, Sir John, the head of the National Audit Office (NAO), was cleared of any wrongdoing after racking up £336,000 in expenses from globetrotting trips.

An investigation by the Public Accounts Commission found "no evidence of impropriety" and that Sir John had acted "in accordance with the existing rules".

He had faced criticism when it emerged that he had made at least 43 journeys abroad at the taxpayer's expense over three years.

His wife, Lady Bourn, accompanied him on 22 of the stays at a cost to the public purse of £76,000.

However, the commission did conclude that "a more transparent system" was needed for the NAO head's expenses.

It suggested Sir John - the Comptroller and Auditor General - should be made subject to the same kind of rules that apply to Permanent Secretaries in Whitehall.