BISHOP Auckland Labour MP and Works and Pensions Minister Helen Goodman reportedly needs the taxpayer to pay her expenses for cleaning despite an income in the region of £96 000 from us.

Perhaps she should also claim for a secretary, too, because having written to her more than three months ago I still await a reply (she may have been busy cleaning).

Never mind, with some thoughtful voting at the next General Election, she will be unemployed. Will she be able to claim cleaning expenses from the Benefits Agency?

CR Hudson, Byers Green, near Spennymoor, Co Durham.