Wrangle over free Scots TV revealed

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The former minister was said to have told the Commons fees office that a flat-screen television was the "sensible option" in a cramped flat.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Mr Griffiths was told he could not claim £3,604.99 for electronic equipment in May 2004.

The Edinburgh South MP was said to have told the fees office: "As a Scottish MP, I can only keep in touch with events during the day that might affect my constituents by tuning into the Scottish radio stations which the digital set provides.

"Likewise, I record the Scottish TV news and Scottish current affairs programmes, which feature issues in Scotland and in south Edinburgh. In a cramped London flat, flat-screen TV is the sensible option."

The fees office wrote back days later to tell him that while the explanation was understandable, the "level of purchases" remained under question.

Mr Griffiths was asked to contact the director of operations if he wished to argue the matter further but he did not do so.

According to the newspaper, the MP successfully claimed £9,250 to redecorate his London flat and £450 for a carpet, pots and kitchen utensils in November 2004.

Six months later, he claimed £4,911 for redecoration and in 2006, a further charge of £3,310 for redecoration was approved.

Mr Griffiths told the newspaper he had decided to redecorate after 14 years and the cost "was not exceptional".