Conservative deputy chairman John Maples, who has a second home near Banbury, has denied any wrong-doing in the continuing investigation into MPs’ expenses.

The Stratford-on-Avon MP claimed his home in Lower Brailes, near Banbury, where his family lived, as his second home during a period when it is alleged he was using the RAC Club in London and another flat in the capital as a “base”.

Mr Maples denied last night that he had ever claimed the RAC Club was his main home.

The MP said his London house had always been treated as his main home for parliamentary purposes, and his Oxfordshire property as his second home.

When he sold the London property in September 2004, there was a six-month period before he moved into a new home in the capital.

During that time, he used the RAC Club as a "base" in September and October and another flat between October and March.

He asked the parliamentary Fees Office whether he was right to continue to claim Additional Costs Allowance on his second home during that period and was assured that "everything was in order".

Mr Maples said: "Had the Fees Office expressed any doubt at all, I would have refunded what I had been paid during that period. This gap was caused by a totally unforeseen delay in moving into my new London home."

And he added: "I have never claimed for personal items such as food, or furniture and have never claimed for any improvements, work done to the property, or work done outside the house.

"I fully believe that everything I have claimed on the ACA has been a properly incurred property related expense and that I can produce receipts for almost everything."

Mr Maples said he would pay back his expenses if ordered to by the Scrutiny Panel set up by Conservative leader David Cameron.

But he told BBC2's Newsnight: "I don't see why I should. I cleared this arrangement with the Fees Office.

"I have asked the Scrutiny Panel that has been set up to have a look at this as a matter of priority.

"I believe I was authorised to claim this by the Fees Office, but if for some reason they disagree with that and say I should pay it back, then obviously I will do what they say."