"So an exercise like Thomas Legg has carried out was needed, " he said.

BBC: DUP MPs to repay ?14k in expenses

Following the Telegraph's revelations, former senior civil servant Sir Thomas Legg was commissioned by Downing Street to examine the MPs' claims.

BBC: MPs face further expense queries

The prime minister also asked an independent auditor, Sir Thomas Legg, to go over past claims again, to ensure money had been paid out properly.

BBC: HMRC investigates taxes of 27 MPs

Adding to the confusion is the parallel effort of Sir Thomas Legg, a former civil servant asked by Mr Brown to audit all expenses claims since 2004.

ECONOMIST: Reforming parliamentary expenses