MPS' ROOM HIRE RECORDS REVEALED

The House authorities published a list of about 8,000 bookings MPs have made on behalf of outside organisations since 2004.

Events sponsored by MPs were held by charities, constituency associations, companies, unions, business clubs, lobbyists and think tanks, among many others.

Because they are able to vouch for groups or individuals who wish to make bookings with the Commons Banqueting Office, MPs can effectively act as gatekeepers to Parliament's taxpayer-subsidised facilities.

According to the release, Tory leader David Cameron has sponsored 16 events since 2004. His guests included West Oxfordshire Lady Freemasons, West Oxfordshire Conservative Association, ITV, the British Dental Health Association and the launch of National Smile Month.

Shadow chancellor George Osborne made seven bookings on behalf of third parties, including his local Tatton Conservative association, Royal Opera House Young Artists and the All Party Commercial Radio Group.

Neither Prime Minister Gordon Brown nor Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg featured on the list, apparently having made no such bookings.

The most prolific room-bookers included Lib Dem MP Evan Harris, who made 89 in the five and a half years, and Labour's Barry Sheerman, with 88.

Patricia Hewitt, the former health secretary, booked a breakfast and a dinner with BT in late 2008 and early 2009. She later took a non-executive directorship with the company.

Communities Secretary John Denham used a Parliamentary room for a breakfast in June 2006 - when he was a backbencher - for AXA Derbak, who had previously awarded him a "one-off consultancy".