A Sinn Fein spokesman in Belfast responded to questions from The Sunday Telegraph on behalf of all five of the party's MPs. He said: "It is widely known that Sinn Fein MPs travel regularly to London on Parliamentary business and utilise the accommodation that we rent when there. We do not purchase properties at public expense and therefore do not profit from the expenses claimed as of right. The rent we pay on these properties are all inclusive of parking, utilities, housekeeping etc and therefore you are not comparing like with like."