MPS have given themselves more money after agreeing a new £10,000 allowance to help boost the public s understanding of Parliament. The money will be spent on things like websites, and Commons leader Jack Straw MP said the money would help contribute to

MPS have given themselves more money after agreeing a new £10,000 allowance to help boost the public's understanding of Parliament.

The money will be spent on things like websites, and Commons leader Jack Straw MP said the money would help "contribute to better public understanding of what this Parliament is about and what it does".

The Comet were only able to get replies from three of the five MPs who cover our area; Oliver Heald, MP for East and North Hertfordshire, Alistair Burt, MP for North East Bedfordshire and Nadine Dorries, MP for Mid Bedfordshire.

Mr Heald, who currently spends around £1,500 a year on his website, said he believes the money is not necessary.

Mr Burt said the extra funding would be good for contacting more constituents and helping them to engage with the political process and Mrs Dorries said it was a way for MPs to use "taxpayers money to tell their constituents how wonderful they are".

All three MPs voted against the new allowance.

We were unable to get comments from Hitchin MP Peter Lilley and Stevenage MP Barbara Follett at the time of going to press.