Hendon MP Andrew Dismore has defended his expenses claim, the highest of any London MP, during a debate in the House of Commons.

Last week we reported how Mr Dismore claimed £154,539, including around £37,000 for stationery and postage costs alone.

On Wednesday last week, he showed the Commons examples of letters sent to him by constituents praising his attempts to keep them informed, and said proposals to change the way MPs' expenses can be claimed could stop him from carrying out such work.

He told fellow MPs: "Ours must be the only job in the world where high productivity is seen as something to be criticised rather than praised. I go out of my way to inform my constituents about what is going on, in a non-party political way."

Mr Dismore quoted from a letter sent to him by a constituent in Burnt Oak who welcomed the chance to correspond by letter, because he does not have email facilities.

He continued: "Another constituent from Colindale said that she much appreciated being kept up to date' on matters of great interest. A constituent from Edgware said we appreciate all the communication we receive from you, and feel that you are the only MP that seems to genuinely care'."

When asked how much time he spends signing letters, Mr Dismore said that on Monday last week he had signed 350 by hand in one hour, and argued that one reason for sending so many letters was because Parliament's long hours do not allow him the chance to visit constituents in the evening.