Minister apologises following mortgage claim

Miller is expected to repay £5,800 following an inquiry into her expense claims but has been admonished in a report by the committee that investigated the matter for failing to co-operate with their investigation.

Miller said in the House of Commons: "The committee has recommended that I apologise to the house for my attitude towards the commissioner's inquiry, and I, of course, unreservedly apologise.

"I fully accept the recommendations of the committee and thank them for bringing this matter to an end." She did not mention the money that she had been asked to repay.”

But critics rounded on Miller after it was revealed that an appendix to the report suggested that she had over claimed around £44,000 between 2005 and 2009.

It was also claimed that Miller may have inappropriately used public money to help support her parents.

In a statement Miller said: "I've accepted in full the committee's report and I will apologise. I am pleased that the committee has dismissed the allegation against me by a Labour MP.

"Separately, I will, of course, make the required repayment, having drawn the committee's attention to this matter. I thank the committee for bringing this matter to an end."

Miller became MP for Basingstoke in 2005 and was claiming on her second home in Wimbledon, London.