KENT MPs have appealed for understanding over figures showing that, on average, they each claimed around £118,000 in expenses last year.

MPs insisted the money – on top of their annual salary of £57,484 – was crucial in allowing them to do their job and properly represent constituents.

Despite concerns that the figures could be misconstrued, most welcomed the decision to make them public. In total, Kent MPs claimed £1.72million with the Gravesham Labour MP Chris Pond claiming the highest amount - £130,642.

Most were in line with or slightly below the national average. In total, some £78million was claimed by the country’s 659 MPs last year.

It is the first time the information has been made public and it shows how much each MP claimed under different categories covering travel, staff and accommodation. The most significant sum for most was paying staff and for office costs.

Ashford MP Damian Green said: “Publishing the information is fine. This is public money so people should know what is being spent.

"The misunderstanding could be people thinking this is just expenses when actually the bulk of it is for paying staff, office equipment and things like phones.”

“The truth is that these are the kind of expenses anyone who runs an office has to incur. The demands on MPs are much greater than they were – we deal with much more correspondence and people regard us as providing a pblic service.”

Faversham and Mid Kent MP Hugh Robertson said: “I have no objection to this information being published. All public expenditure should be accountable and as public figures, it is entirely reasonable that the public should know how money is spent.

"However, I do hope people will set the figures in context and look at them sensibly.”

Chatham and Aylesford Labour MP Jonathan Shaw said: “We introduced the Freedom of Information Act and it would obviously be wrong to exempt ourselves from it. The public ought to recognise that a large part of the expenses are for staff.”

According to the figures, Conservative leader Michael Howard received one of the highest sums for postage - £8,018 – but his other allowances were broadly in line with the average.

KENT MPs – Who claimed what in 2003-2004:

Julian Brazier (Canterbury): £112,953

Paul Clark (Gillingham): £119,909

Roger Gale (Thanet North): £125,760

Damian Green (Ashford): £119,084

Michael Howard (Folkestone and Hythe): £126,659

Dr Stephen Ladyman (Thanet South) £118,815

Bob Marshall-Andrews (Medway) £114,911

Archie Norman (Tunbride Wells) £102,212

Chris Pond (Gravesend) £130,642

Gwyn Prosser (Dover) £118,427

Hugh Robertson (Faversham and Mid Kent) £115,326

Jonathan Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford) £112,230

Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling) £73,849

Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford) £116,625

Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald) £115,375

Derek Wyatt (Sheppey) £120,794.

Total: £1,722,777

Full details of the allowances are available on www.parliament.uk