GWENT MPs claimed at least £230,000 in expenses in the last financial year.

Figures from the body responsible for parliamentary expenses show that the highest expenses claimant in Gwent was David Davies, Tory MP for Monmouth, who claimed £40,241.

But the MP said that he had not seen a penny of the money and that the term expenses had been used for too long.

Paul Flynn, Labour MP for Newport West, claimed the least at £16,691. One MP claimed £16,609 for staffing expenses.

The provisional figures for 2012/13 have been made available on the website of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), which governs MPs expenses. The organisation is yet to publish final figures for the year.

Some £231,280 is listed as being claimed by Gwent’s six MPs, plus Caerphilly MP Wayne David, lower than the £268,883 figure for 2011/12.

Of the £40,241 Mr Davies claimed, £13,657 for costs related to accommodation, £15,449 for office costs, £3,960 for staffing and £7,174 for travel and subsistence.

Mr Davies explained that MPs expenses are not paid to him, and that he moved from renting a flat to staying in hotels in January because it works out cheaper.

“We’ve used the term expenses for far too long. It’s like saying the costs of running a school are the headteacher’s expenses,” he said.

The next highest claimant in Gwent was Nick Smith, the MP for Blaenau Gwent, who is listed as claiming £38,510 in 2012/13.

Mr Smith claimed £16,609 for office costs, £12,492 for staffing, £4,024 for accommodation costs and £5,385 for travel and subsistence.

The Argus asked why Mr Smith had claimed more than £12,000 on staffing expenses. He said his office uses “a part time financial controller who is ensuring our overall running costs are managed effectively and for the benefit of the taxpayer.”

“The pay of staff who would normally handle these tasks has been lower compared to their counterparts across the country to account for this expense,” he said.

“Over time as other staff have been trained in these areas, we are reducing our dependency on this service.”

Chris Evans, MP for Iswlyn, claimed £33,802, with £16,741 in accommodation, £10,787 for office costs and £6,273 for travel and subsistence.

Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East, claimed £33,733, including £9,921 for accommodation, £19,448 for office costs, £22.50 for staffing and £4,340 for travel and subsistence.

Ms Morden rents a room in a Lambeth flat owned by Bridgend MP Madeline Moon.

Torfaen MP Paul Murphy is recorded as claiming £31,470 from IPSA.

That includes £5,882.15 for travel and subsistence, £18,684 for office costs and £6,483 for accommodation.

Mr Murphy said: "On the rare occasions I travel to and from Parliament by train, I make sure I book ahead and avoid peak times, making my claims for train travel well below the limit of the standard class open fare."

The lowest claimant in Gwent, as covered by the provisional figures, was Paul Flynn, MP for Newport West.

Mr Flynn claimed £16,691, with £3,789 in accommodation costs, £7,782 in office costs and £5,120 for travel and subsistence.

Wayne David, MP for Caerphilly claimed £36,829, including £18,559 for accommodation costs, £14,821 for office costs and £3,448 for travel and subsistence.