AMs' expenses claims are online

An investigation is being conducted into the AMs' expenses system

The latest details of Welsh assembly members' expenses claims have been published online.

Last year AMs claimed more than £230,000 for mortgages and rent, and nearly £50,000 for meals.

They also show Labour's Sandy Mewies spent £1,599 on TV equipment. She said people had a right to the information.

Two Plaid Cymru AMs claimed £400 each to share a stall in the party's tent at the National Eisteddfod. Plaid said it represented good value for money.

The Plaid AMs, Chris Franks and Leanne Wood, both represent the South Wales Central region.

A spokesperson for them said they had the stall at the event in Cardiff "to be readily accessible for their constituents in the region".

"The contract with Plaid Cymru meant that we had one unit of the three units where a member of staff or assembly member was available during the eight days of the event.

TOP FIVE CLAIMERS

Dafydd Elis-Thomas (Plaid Cymru): £36, 511.94

Eleanor Burnham (Liberal Democrat): £33,291.49

Helen Mary Jones (Plaid Cymru): £33,199.29

Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Plaid Cymru): £32,578.80

Angela Burns (Conservative):£32,227.58

Click here for AMs' expenses log

"We had a third of the space for less than a third of the cost."

The spokesperson added: "We did explore the option of a standalone unit; however this would have cost the taxpayer a great deal more money."

The public are able to access allowances claimed by individual AMs after the launch of a new online log.

Initially, only claims for the financial year 2008/9 are available, but from October the log will be updated month by month.

Ms Mewies, the AM for Delyn, said: "Like my assembly Labour colleagues I am fully committed to transparency in public life and support the publication of assembly member allowance claims in an online format. The public has a right to this information."

AMs claimed almost £6,500 for furniture and electrical goods for their second homes and £4,500 for air travel.

Eight Conservative AMs claimed a total of almost £5,650 for travel, hotel and taxi fares while on a fact-finding trip to Brussels they went on in March.

AMs are allowed to claim for visits to Brussels three times a year and the group met with a series of officials to discuss subjects ranging from rural affairs to structural funds.

Seven of the 60 AMs claimed a combined £2,582.98 for soft furnishings.

Plaid Cymru's Rhodri Glyn Thomas spent £830 on curtains and blinds for his second home, and Labour's Alun Davies more than £550 on soft furnishings.

BOTTOM FIVE CLAIMERS

Lorraine Barrett (Labour): £6,040.03

David Melding (Conservative): £8,596.33

Rhodri Morgan (Labour): £8,951.26

Christopher Franks (Plaid Cymru): £9,642.96

Jane Hutt (Labour): £10,702.71

Mr Davies's purchases included cushions, quilt covers, lampshades and a bread bin.

One of the more unusual claims is from Newport East Labour AM and Deputy Minister for Skills John Griffiths.

He claimed £5 from his office costs for a subscription to the Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge.

The publication of the claims comes after a major controversy over MPs' expenses and a row over claims by AMs including iPods.

Presiding officer Lord Elis-Thomas said that while individual receipts would not be available online, the public could have access to them.

"We are not going to scan receipts but receipts are available if people want to see them".

He added: "We've got to get it right for the people of Wales because that's what we are here for. We are not here to make money for ourselves. We've got to give people confidence and show that we are worthy of their trust at all times."

ALLOWANCE RULES

The second home allowance is for those away from constituency homes during the week for Senedd business

£15,000 for a constituency office

No limit on travel expenses

The new website has used software bought from the Scottish Parliament.

It follows the release last year of AMs' allowances claimed for the financial years 2006/7 and 2007/08.

An investigation into the whole system of financial support for AMs is also under way, conducted by an independent panel of experts headed by Sir Roger Jones.

The panel are due to report next week.

Lord Elis-Thomas said it was important to gain the full confidence of the public.

"We aim to be even more transparent, even more open and even more candid with the people of Wales than ever before," he said.

Currently, every AM's claim has to be signed off by the Fees Office of the Assembly Commission.