MP's letter 'sent to old address'

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The former Strathkelvin and Bearsden MP has been told that all correspondence from the MPs' expenses inquiry team has been sent to the wrong address.

John Lyons has been ordered to repay £18,780 in mortgage interest payments by Sir Thomas Legg, who conducted an independent audit of MPs' claims.

He claimed Mr Lyons failed to respond to a series of letters on the matter.

But the inquiry team admitted sending letters to an address he moved away from more than six years ago.

Mr Lyons, who left parliament in 2005, said he does not owe any money and is due to meet officials from the inquiry team later this week.

'Apology demanded'

He said: "I am pleased that they have now admitted that all letters in relation to this were sent to an old address - despite the fact that I regularly receive correspondence from the House Authorities to my proper address.

"I am particularly angered that they continued to publish their decision knowing full well that I had not been given the chance to reply as mail had been returned to the inquiry team indicating "not at this address".

"I meet with the Legg Inquiry Team next week to resolve this matter which I could have done months ago had I been properly informed.

"I have also demanded a full written apology from Sir Thomas Legg for the undoubted damage to my reputation his action has caused."