KENT MPs claimed more than £55,000 in travel expenses, according to newly-released figures that suggest most choose their cars over public transport to get about on parliamentary and constituency business.

A detailed breakdown of travel expenses claimed by all MPs has been published for the first time after the Commons authorities failed to block a request for the data made under the Freedom of Information Act.

The overall figures were disclosed last year but no breakdown of how MPs got about was given.

The figures for Kent’s MPs show that in total, they claimed £55,285 between April 2005 and March 2006.

But the bulk of their claims were for car mileage, with eight times more money claimed for that than for rail fares or other public transport.

Not one of the county’s MPs claimed anything for travelling around by bicycle.

Several claimed they were left with no option but to use their cars because it was impractical to use buses or trains for parliamentary or constituency business.

Ashford MP Damian Green (Con), who claimed £3,138 in milage and £387 in rail fares, said: “It is simply impossible to be the MP for Ashford, a constituency that covers 220 square miles without a car. You only have to look at a map to see what a rural area I cover.”

But he insisted that he did use public transport for engagements where he could. “If I have a meeting in central Ashford and it is a day when I am in Parliament, I will always take the train.”

Transport minister and Thanet South Labour MP Dr Steve Ladyman said using the car was often more practical: “Our expenses do depend on where we live.

"In my case, it is a two-hour journey by train to get to London, which is why I have been pressing for a better service. I am trying harder to use the train this year because I do think it it important we set an example.

"But it is difficult to do that when a train journey from Doncaster [to London] is quicker than one from Thanet.”

Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP (Labour) Derek Wyatt claimed most in rail fares of all Kent MPs but said that was probably “coincidental” although he too strived to use public transport when he could.

He often made contributions to “offset” carbon emissions but said the issue was more complex than simply using more public transport.

Kent Green spokesman Steven Dawe expressed some sympathy with the predicament of MPs.

“Our MPs are operating in a part of the country where access to public transport is poor. The big disadvantage they have is that most of Europe spends 50 per cent more on public transport than we do. It is something where it would be easy to make cheap political points but that is not addressing the problem.”

Under allowances, MPs can claim for travel to and from work; for travel on parliamentary business; fpr some European travel and for some select committee travel.

An allowance of 40 pence per mile is paid up to 10,000 miles and 25 pence for every mile after that.

Breakdown of how much Kent MPs claimed in travel expenses in 2005-2006

Julian Brazier (Canterbury): £2,868 (Car) £178 (rail)

Greg Clark (Tunbridge Wells) £199 (Car) £1,467 (rail)

Paul Clark (Gillingham) £4,460 (car)

Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks) £2,177 (car) £3,564 (other)

Roger Gale (North Thanet) £4,923 (car) £470 (rail) £290 (air)

Damian Green (Ashford) £3,138 (car) £48 (rail)

Adam Holloway (Gravesham) £1,756 (car) £387 (rail)

Michael Howard (Folkestone and Hythe) £1,539 (car) £80 (rail)

Dr Steve Ladyman (South Thanet) £4,225 (car) £378 (rail)

Bob Marshall-Andrews (Medway) £918 (car) £11 (rail)

Gwyn Prosser (Dover) £4,095 (car) £100 (rail)

Hugh Robertson (Faversham and Mid Kent) £4,535 (car) £269 (rail) £856 (other)

Jonathan Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford) £2,251 (car) £541 (rail)

Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling) £1,280 (car) £113 (rail)

Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford) £2,250 (car) £132 (rail)

Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald) £2,211 (car) £59 (rail)

Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) £2,600 (car) £1,198 (rail)

Total: £45,425 (car) £5,440 (rail) £4,420

Overall costs: £55,285

Source: House of Commons

More details available from www.parliament.uk