Full statement from St Albans MP Anne Main: "I would like to clarify the position that has been recently reported about me in the national media.

"The situation is not as has been described in some of the press. I have been scrutinised by the Conservative Party scrutiny committee and they have decided that my circumstances with regarding the use of my flat are within the rules.

"There have been discussions over whether a purchase of a bed (value £399) was inside the spirit of the rules, and the scrutiny committee decided to defer this specific decision as they needed to go to press with the list of 'repayees'.

"As to the reference to the parliamentary standards commissioner.

"A complaint has been made by a private individual within my constituency with regard to the same issues over my arrangements that have already been considered acceptable by the scrutiny committee. Consequently, I have already provided a response on this particular matter to the standards commissioner and am awaiting his outcome.

"To be absolutely clear the scrutiny committee has not referred me to the standards commissioner. This can be confirmed by Patrick McLoughlin, Conservative Chief Whip and member of the scrutiny committee"'